FIVE Filipinos led by former world champion Dennis Orcollo advanced outright to the round-of-64 of the World 9-Ball Championship following victories in the winners’ bracket in Doha, Qatar.
Orcollo defeated Hosain Sayeem of Bangladesh, 9-6, the second win in Group 13 for the former 8-ball title holder and 2015 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist in Singapore.
Also moving to the knockout stage are Carlo Biado, Jeffrey Ignacio, Raymond Faraon, and Antonio Gabica.
Biado, who also won a gold medal in the doubles competition of the SEA Games this year, defeated Daniele Corrieri of Italy, 9-5, to make the final 64 from Group 8 while Jeffrey Ignacio beat Jason Klatt of Canada, 9-6, in Group 15.
Faraon downed Porpel Mohan Nadali of Iran, 9-4, in Group 4, while Gabica, a gold medalist in the 2006 Asian Games and now based in Qatar, turned back Singha Fahim of Bangladesh, 9-7, in Group 16.
Warren Kiamco, Oliver Medenilla, and Johan Chua are still aiming for a spot in the round-of-64 via the losers’ bracket.
Source: Reuben Terrado of Spin.ph
