Billiards
Orcullo wins US 10-ball tilt
InterAKTV file photo
MANILA — Now considered as the country’s best Filipino cue artist, Dennis “Robocop” Orcullo, captured on Sunday the 3rd Annual Hard Times 10-Ball Open at the Hard Times Billiards in Bellflower, California, USA.
Orcullo’s friend, chess IM Marlon Bernardino, reported that the recent plum was the former Bislig, Surigao fisherman’s first major title in 2012 after winning the coveted gold medal in last year’s Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.
Orcullo, the top player of Bugsy Promotions, dismantled Shane “The South Dakota Kid” Van Boening of USA, 11-3, in the finals, said Bernardino.
Bernardino reported that Orcullo proved unstoppable once he got going in the winner’s break, race-to-eleven format.
The former World 8-ball champion, a feared money-game shark anywhere in the world, won a total of US$ 8,000 in the tournament.
Bernardino quoted Orcullo as saying: “I got my confidence after winning against Max (Eberle).”
The 2011 Philippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Year, Orcullo thumbed down US standout Eberle, 9-2, in their semi-final match.
“I’ve hoped and prayed hard enough to win this crown for my countrymen as well as my boss Perry and Verna (Mariano) who has been helping me compete abroad.”
Orcullo’s next tournament is the upcoming US Open 10-Ball Challenge in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 10.
Joining him in the event are Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Jose “Amang” Parica, Santos “The Saint” Sambajon, Ramon “Maestro Monching” Mistica and Danny Petralba, Bernardino said.
