Orcollo out to defend title in Qatar

MANILA, Philippines – Dennis Orcollo is all fired up for the second Qatar International 9-Ball Cham­pionship where he will defend his title starting June 30 in Doha. Orcollo, reputedly the world’s best money-game player, said Fri­day he is also confident that his stint in the JBetpoker.net Scotch Doubles All-Star Challenge, a four-way tag-team competition, in partnership with Gandy Valle will sharpen his skills for the Doha competition.

The top-gun Bugsy Promotions pair are seeing action along with three other prominent tandems. The other tandems are made up of former world champ Alex Pagulayan and Rodolfo Luat of Puyat Sports; Lee Van Corteza and Warren Kiamco of Negros Billiards
Stable; and Ramil Gallego and An­tonio Lining of the BMPAP.

“I need a winning momentum before I go to Doha,” Orcollo, al­ready the winner of last month’s 2009 Predator I
nternational 10- Ball Championship in Las Vegas, told the Inquirer. Orcollo, pool’s World No. 1 un­til last year, beat The Netherlands’ Niels Feijen, 13-5, in a lopsided
championship match of the Qa­tar 9-Ball last year to take home a hefty $40,000 prize.

Sen. Manny Villar, whose Vil­lards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports and Camella Communities are sponsoring the event, will make the ceremonial break of the duels to be aired live on ABS-CBN’s Studio 23 from 2 to5 p.m.