JEFF DE LUNA WINS P1-M IN PACMAN 9 BALL TOURNAMENT
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 28 Oct 2007
The 23-year-old De Luna, member of the star-studded Bugsy Promotion, beat 2007 Billiards Congress of America (BCA) Enjoypool.com 9-ball winner Dennis Orcollo in an all-Filipino finale, 11-9, late Saturday to win the crown in the double-elimination tournament that featured 128 elite players from around the world.
The man known in the billiard circle as "The Bull" or "Jeff Bata" netted P1 million, his biggest ever prize in his pro billiard career after getting a P850,000 cash incentives from the local government by winning the silver medal in the 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball competition in Qatar.
"So far ito na ang pinakamalaking premyo na natanggap ko sa aking pro billiard career. Y'ung sa Asian Games ay P850,000 ang natanggap ko sa local government matapos manalo ako ng silver medal sa 9-ball competition." said De Luna, one of the country's representatives in the Kabayan World 9-Ball Challenge: Philippines vs. Rest of the World on Nov. 12-13 in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.
"Saka timing ang pagkapanalo ko sa Manny Pacquiao International 9-Ball kasi walang-walang pera kami ng asawa kong si Ian kung saan ang dalawa naming anak ay may sakit at kailangan madala sa Hospital agad," De Luna referring his son Alexander and daughter Alexandra who are sick.
De Luna, who won the opening lag, had a reaction his game against Orcollo "Grabe, hindi talaga bumibitaw si Dennis (Orcollo) siguro kung siya ang nakauna o dikitan kami ay baka talo ako," explained De Luna who took a 6-0 commanding lead before Orcollo came back and close the match at 6-4 count. Orcollo faltered in the 20th rack to allow the unbeaten De Luna to nail an 11-9 win.
The 28-year-old Orcollo, on the other hand, received runner-up prize of P500,000 in this P2 million total pot tournament sponsored by Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao in close cooperation with Solar All Access and Manny Pacquiao promotion.
De Luna earlier ousted former US Open 9-Ball runner-up and SMB Asian 9-ball tour winner Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat, 10-6, in the semi-finals to book a finals slot.
Orcollo, meanwhile advanced into the finals after knocking out Sta. Cruz, Laguna No. 1 player Michael "Fighter" Feliciano, 10-2, in the other side of the semis. Losing semi-finalist Luat and Feliciano will take home P150,000 each.
Early this month, De Luna beat Ricky Zerna and Panfilo Damuag, 11-7, in Pool Showdown to amassed a total earnings worth $3,300.00 one for ring game winner, two match of the week champion ($1,000.00 each) and $500.00 as added prize for retaining the hot seat (Hari ng Mesa).
The Manny Pacquiao event should serve as good tune-up for De Luna, who is seeking to improve his last year's WPC quarter-final finish when the 2007 World Pool Championship gets going on Nov. 3-11 at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
Top photo: CURRENT Doha Asian Games 9-ball silver medalist Jeffrey De Luna added the 1st Manny Pacquiao International 9-Ball Open title to his few collection of achievements at the Entertainment Center, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
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