After WCup loss, RP cue artists' woes continue

MANILA, Philippines - Francisco "Django" Bustamante and Dennis Orcollo failed in their attempt to stop the Philippines' losing streak in top world tournaments when they dropped a 9-6 decision to the United States in the semifinals of the World Cup of Pool Sunday in Rotterdam, Holland. The RP duo looked devastating in the first three rounds, giving up only a total of seven racks in that stretch. With a 2-1 score in their favor, the Filipinos tried to widen the gap in the fourth game against the US, but Orcollo missed an easy shot at the clincher 9-ball. The Americans returned to the table, tied the count and went up 5-2. The RP tandem would not come closer than two racks. The US, powered by Rodney Morris and Shane van Boening, went on to win the championship after beating the English pair of Darryl Peach and Mark Gray 11-7 in the finals. Bustamante and Orcollo's defeat marked the fourth straight time a Filipino representative fell short in a world event. Just recently, Demosthenes Pulpul reached the semifinals of the inaugural World Ten-Ball tournament but he would not go further after he lost to Wu Chia-Ching of Chinese Taipei. Last April, Ronnie Alcano ceded his World 8-ball throne to Ralf Souquet of Germany in the final round. Last year, Roberto Gomez also fell short in his title bid when he lost to Peach in the World 9-ball final. The World Cup defeat was Bustamante's second straight after he and Efren "Bata" Reyes couldn't get past the quarterfinals last year. The Philippines, represented by Bustamante and Reyes then, was the event's inaugural champion in 2006. Bustamante and Orcollo took home $16,000 (P752,000). - GMANews.TV