TEAM Philippines scored another thrilling 4-2 victory over Poland to secure a spot in the semifinals of the first World Team Pool Cup Championship being held at the Hall 13 Hannover Exhibition Grounds in Germany. Former world No. 1 Dennis Orcollo came with a crucial win for the Philippines, crushing Poland’s top bet Radoslaw Babica, 7-3, in the 10-ball event.

“Again, all the expectation was on my side, coming to the deciding match. But I just motivated myself and it worked,” said the 31-year-old Orcollo, the reigning International Predator 10-ball champion.

The RP cue masters once again swept the two-game 8-Ball Scotch Doubles event as Ronato Alcano and Marlon Manalo, and Orcollo and Warren Kiamco posted similar victories in their respective games.

Japan-based Antonio Lining made it 3-0 for the Philippines following an 8-3 win over Mariusz Skoneczny in the first 9-ball game. Poland retaliated with victories of Mateusz Sniegocki over Alcano, 8-4, in the second 9-ball game and Karol Skowerski over two-time National Pool champion Lee Vann Corteza, 7-5, in the other 10-ball match.

The Philippines arranged a semifinal duel with Russia in the tournament, which offers a whopping $100,000 to the champion team.

Led by Konstantin Stepanov and Ruslan Chinahov, Russia thumped Germany 2, 4-1. England and Greece also reached the semifinals by crushing China, 4-3, and Switzerland, 4-0, respectively.

--EMIL C. NOGUERA

The Manila Times