Tough wins for favorites in Pool Nationals opener | Raya Sports ...

(Dennis Orcullo photo by KC Cruz)

Dennis Orcullo and Carlo Biado, two of the favored bets in the? 2011 BSCP National Pool Championships, walked the tightrope at yesterday? opening? before pulling off hard-earned wins at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City.

In contrast,? Renemar David, a former national junior standout, scored the biggest upset win of the day by upsetting world-ranking Roberto Gomeez, 8-7.

Jeff de Luna, a perennial contender and the strongest powerbreaker in pool, showed??up in tip-top condition by taking three straight matches.

Orcullo, the reigning World 8-Ball champion and currently ranked World No.1, outlasted veteran campaigner Edgar Acaba, 8-7.

Acaba, who led for most part of the match, tied the score at 7-all and had a golden opportunity of completing an upset win by getting the privilege of breaking in the 15th and final rack.

Unfortunately, Acaba scratched the cue ball while going for the break, allowing Orcullo to run out the table.

?I got lucky he scratched in the final rack. I was struggling the whole game, and was lucky to pull this one off,? said??Orcullo.

A strong contender for the World Pool Association Player of the Year award, Orcullo was surprisingly trailing, 3-5, but won four of the next five racks to take the driver?s seat, 7-6.

A dry break in the 14^th?rack allowed Acaba to get back at the table and level the count at 7-all, setting up an exciting finish until disaster struck in the 15^thwhen he scratched while breaking.

The power breaking De Luna asserted his dominance over Mario Tolentino, 8-3, to stay on the winner?s bracket and extend his winning streak to three.

Biado?and David pulled off tough decision victories over their respective rivals to stay on the winner?s side.

David upset former world pool runner-up Roberto Gomez, 8-7, while Biado nipped John Salazar, 8-7.

Also keeping a perfect record were?Johann Chua, Ricky Zerna, OFW Allan Cuartero and Rene Cruz.

Chua capped his run of victories with an 8-7 decision over Ramon Mistica.

Zerna also survived Oliver Villafuerte in another hill-hill encounter, 8-7.

Cruz stunned comebacking Leonardo Andam, 8-5, to complete the list of players on the winner?s bracket of the event that attracted 47 participants.

Two notable players also got the early exit door ? reigning national junior champion Jonas Magpantay and veteran campaigner Ramil Gallego.

Relegated to the loser?s bracket early on, Magpantay lost 4-8, to Anjo Huelgas, kissing his hopes goodbye of earning a spot in the World Pool Summit.

Gallego also got the boot, bowing to Reggie Geronimo, 7-8.

You can follow the 2011 BSCP National Pool Championship results here.

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Source: http://rayasports.wordpress.com/2011/10/04/tough-wins-for-favorites-in-pool-nationals-opener/

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