The Filipino Players at DCC

[Rich93]

I'd like to offer some kudos to the Filipino players who took part this year in the DCC 14.1 Challenge - Alex, Dennis Orcollo and Warren Kiamco (apologies if there were others, these are the three I remember). Alex, Dennis and Warren played all the DCC events plus the Fatboy 10 Ball Challenge yet still made time to try their hand at straight pool, a game they seldom play. I don't know if they play it anywhere besides DCC.

It's very interesting watching them play. Because they don't have much experience with the game they don't seem to recognize patterns as quickly or as well as, say, John Schmidt, so they slowly think their way through each rack. But they get the job done. They shoot each shot as if they were performing brain surgery and practically never miss a tough one.

Anyway, it's nice to see them put forth the effort and chance the embarrassment of not doing well at what may be for them a once a year game. Dennis Orcollo made the top 8 this year and Alex made the finals now for two years in a row.

 

[ForumGhost516]

Rich Alex is a fantastic straight pool player who won the warm up event to this year's World 14.1 Championships and I believe took third in the main event over all and has had other great showings in other events as well. We look forward to having him back at the Fury 14.1 Challenge as well.

 

[sjm]

I saw each of these Fillipinos playing at the Derby:

Alex Pagulayan
Warren Kiamco
Efren Reyes
Francisco Bustamante
Lee Van Corteza
Dennis Orcullo

Their versatility, as you suggest, is remarkable and I applaud all of them for their excellence.

Kudos also to the Americans for finishing first, second, and third in the nine ball event (Shane Van Boening, Stevie Moore, Mike Dechaine). Pretty darn strong in a field that included all six Filippinos listed above and also Darren Appleton, Mika Immonen, Ralf Souquet, and Niels Feijen. I think it's a great achievement!

 

[metallicane]

I wish Alex would play more 14.1, but then again, I wish there were more 14.1 events for him to play. I really think he could get some monster runs if he played more.

 

[dmgwalsh]

Rich Alex is a fantastic straight pool player who won the warm up event to this year's World 14.1 Championships and I believe took third in the main event over all and has had other great showings in other events as well. We look forward to having him back at the Fury 14.1 Challenge as well.

I understand that Alex has finished well in many of the 14.1 events he has entered. He goes into the racks softly, which is good. I am not sure he always sees the best patterns, which with his shooting ability and his cue ball control is not always fatal. George Fels remarked at the World Championship that he had improved quite a bit since last year's Derby. Alex told me at the Worlds that he had been practicing 14.1. Stu Mattana is a fan of his 14.1 game, so there must be something to be said for the way he is playing it now.

I think I will see what Danny Diliberto says about his game when the Accustats video comes out of the match between Alex and John Schmidt. I suspect that Danny will not have fallen in love with his patterns.

But like Rich says, it is very nice to see the Filipinos playing the game. Dennis Orcollo was improving day by day. He bought 4 entries and had a lot of nice runs. Warren Kiamco played a bit and you could hear Dennis teaching him a little. Warren had a 98 for his first year attempting the event and I bet we will see him do better next year.

 

[OTB]

there all great shooters

 

[elvicash]

Thanks to these guys Warren,Dennis and Alex and all of the other players we had at the challenge this year, great turnout. The thing that impressed me was the workman like approach to the problem that is 14.1 Dennis and Warren kept working at it and I was glad they had the chance to buy extra entrys and to see how they attacked the tables. Getting through some tough situation and taking their licks when it did not work out in thier favor. Warren nearly got a 100 (98) and Dennis made the final 8. As for Alex I think he attacks the run with pure talent and it is great to see what control of the cue ball and superb pocketing make possible. He started that last day out of the running with four try left he had 3 short runs and that last run was something to watch he finished at 141. I hope these players attract more of the Filipino contingincy, I love watching champions play, they have talent and will put in work especially when they say a reward such as our prize fund. If all the south eastern rim took on straight pool we would see some big numbers in a short time.