MANILA, Philippines – Former World No. 1 Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo put out a masterful performance to lead Team Philippines to a thrilling 4-2 victory over Norway in the World Team Pool Cup Championship late Thursday (Manila time) at Hall 13 Hannover Exhibition Grounds in Hannover, Germany.

With the win, the Nationals gained a ticket to the quarter-final round of the inaugural World Team Championship.

Orcollo, the reigning International Predator 10-ball champion, toppled Norway’s hopeful Tommy Wolf (7-1) in the third and last of the 10-ball competitions blocking the Norwegians’ attempt to forge a play-off match.

“Buti na lamang nanalo si Dennis kay Tommy. Kung hindi, mag tabla pa sana ang match at mapuwersa pa sa isang tie breaker,” said Bugsy Promotions president Ceferino “Perry” Mariano.

“Tama ang una kong sinabi na huwag silang maging overconfident kasi hindi maiiwasan ang mga upset,” added Perry Mariano, founder of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).

The Nationals swept the 8-ball Scotch Doubles competitions as Ronato Alcano, Marlon Manalo, Lee Vann Corteza and Warren Kiamco won their respective matches.

The pair of Alcano and Manalo scored a 6-5 victory while partners Corteza and Kiamco posted a 6-3 win.

Alcano followed this up with an 8-2 demolition of Vegar Kristiansen in 9-ball to boost the Philippines’ lead to 3-0 in the race-to-4 affair.

However, the Norwegian displayed a “never say die attitude” with Malvin Bjelland edging Antonio “Nikoy” Lining (8-7) in 9-ball and Mats Schjetne prevailing over Corteza (7-4) in 10-ball to close the match at 3-2 count.

Orcollo then racked the team’s most important win by beating Wolf (7-1) for the Philippines’ 4-2 triumph.

Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) Chairman Florentino “Yen” Makabenta is very confident that the Nationals will reach the final round.

“Malaki ang pag-asa na makapasok ang National team natin sa finals. Malalim kasi ang bench natin. Puro de kalibre at mga world-class player ang mga player natin,” he said.

BMPAP co-founder and Negros Billiards Stable (NBS) President Jonathan “Bacolod” Sy added: “Sana pumabor ang bola ulit sa atin. Kamuntikan na tayo sa Norway.”

The Filipinos earlier beat Great Britain II, 4-0, and Czech Republic, 4-1, before facing Norway.

With the win, the 6-man Philippine Team is scheduled to meet Poland late Friday (Manila Time) for the semi-finals berths. Poland, led by Radoslaw Babica blasted Finland (4-0), with reigning World Ten-Ball champion Mika Immonen at the helm.

The 48-nation tournament, the first of its kind and sanctioned by the World Pool Billiard Association (WPA), stakes a total purse of $400,000 (roughly P19.2 million) and uses a point-system scoring patterned after the famous Davis Cup in international tennis. The champion team gets the lion’s share of $100,000 (roughly P4.7 million).

The Philippine Team’s Germany trip is backed by BSCP, Raya Sports, Bugsy Promotions, and Negros Billiards Stable. [source: Francis Santiago | abs-cbnnews.com]