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They Face Tough Match v Germany
Dennis Orcollo and Ronnie Alcano, representing Philippines A, moved into the last four of the PartyCasino.net World Cup of Pool as they shook off the stubborn challenge of Poland to win 9-5 at the SM Mall North Annex in Quezon City, Manila.
Like their countrymen Reyes and Bustamante, they were under pressure from the large crowd gathered and also from the Polish pair of Radoslaw Babica and Mateusz Sniegocki who looked very comfortable in the early stages, given the circumstances.
The Poles led 2-1 but were soon outgunned by their opponents who won three racks on the run to get themselves into a good position at 4-2. Poland though, showing mental toughness, took the next and broke and ran the eighth game to silence the crowd as the match looked finely poised at 4-4
They had a good chance to take the lead but Babica scratched with just a few balls on the table and the Philippines took advantage to go into a 5-4 lead which soon became 6-4. A blunder by Orcollo after a great break from his partner gave the Poles a chance they had been looking for and they took it.
Like their countrymen Reyes and Bustamante, they were under pressure from the large crowd gathered and also from the Polish pair of Radoslaw Babica and Mateusz Sniegocki who looked very comfortable in the early stages, given the circumstances.
That was to be Polands last hurrah as the Filipinos started to play the type of quality pool they are renowned for to close the match out. No team has truly mastered the break in this competition so far but Orcollo and Alcano delivered some outstanding breaks to help them canter to the finish line.
Im really happy. It was very hard to play this match but now were getting closer to playing in the final. I would like to say thanks to all these fans for coming to support the team, said Orcollo.
IN A CLASH of the pedigreed European giants, Germany, consisting of Ralf Souquet and Thorsten Hohmann, held off the late challenge of Holland to book a spot in the semi-finals of the PartyCasino.net World Cup of Pool in a thriller at the SM Mall North Annex in Quezon City, Manila.
The match ended 9-7 and the closing stages were highly exciting as both pairs fought for the opening that would give them a run at the finishing line. The Germans broke well throughout while the Dutch matched them with some quality shots.
“Niels was making all the jump shots but the break is a very important factor. We played well and just missed a few positions but luckily we got through,” said Hohmann afterwards.
It was methodical and high quality match the German pair opened up a 3-1 lead over Nick Van Den Berg and Niels Feijen. They got to within one rack of the Germans at 3-2 and then 5-4.
Another good break from Holland in the tenth but it was a slow progress through the balls if not an effective one. A pumped up van den Berg potted the 9-ball for the second successive rack and clenched his fist as they went level at 5-5.
Germany took the next and a missed 4 ball from Feijen allowed Souquet and the US-based Hohmann to move ahead to 7-5. Another miss, this time from Van den Berg got Germany back to the table and they finished off the rack to get to the hill at 8-5.
There was plenty more drama though as Holland, sporting the shirts of the tournament, took the next courtesy of a great jump shot by Feijen and then got to 8-7 as Van den Berg bagged the 9 ball.
Germany finally got over the line in tension-filled 16th rack that saw both sides have chances. Their relief was palpable as they gave it the high five in celebration of a great win.
“It was tension all the way through but we felt good even until the end. For some reason we couldn’t make any ball off the break and the table started playing funny at the end as the rails were a bit bouncy so that made it a lot harder for both teams, said Souquet.
Semi Finals (Sunday 6th September)
China v Philippines B (1.00pm)
Germany v Philippines A (To follow)
Complete Results To Date
Quarter Finals
Philippines A 9 5 Poland
Germany 9 – 7 Holland
China 9 5 USA
Philippines B 9-1 England
Second Round
Philippines A 8 3 Russia
England 8 6 Spain
Holland 8 4 Japan
Poland 8 5 Chinese Taipei
Germany 8 4 France
China 8-3 Finland
Philippines 8 5 Italy
USA 8 5 Indonesia
First Round
Holland 8 3 Vietnam
Russia 8 3 Denmark
Poland 8 0 Belgium
Chinese Taipei 8 6 Singapore
Philippines A 8 5 Thailand
England 8 4 Malaysia
Germany 8 0 Hong Kong
Japan 8 6 Croatia
Italy 8 5 Austria
Finland 8 3 Sweden
Philippines B 8 3 Qatar
USA 8 7 Malta
Indonesia 8 3 India
Spain 8 3 Australia
China 8 5 Korea
France 8 1 Canada
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