GUANGZHOU — Dennis Orcollo scored an important victory in the men’s 9-ball pool singles Tuesday to keep the Philippines on track for the gold medal in billiards in the 16th Asian Games.

A pool hustler by profession, Orcollo did not waste time sweeping aside Odkhuu Purevsuren of Mongolia, 9-2, to advance into the Last 16.

Pressure mounted following the shock defeats of Efren “Bata” Reyes and Roberto Gomez Jr. to unheralded Indian opponents in the first round of the men’s 8-ball pool singles Saturday.

But for someone who lived off other people’s money, Purevsuren turned out to be an afternoon delight for the Filipino.

Orcollo raced to a 4-0 lead and simply went through the motion of closing the match.

“Pagkatapos ng two racks, alam kong mananalo na ako. Hindi naman gaano kagalingan kaya di ko masyado hinigpitan. May kaunting mintis ako pero kontrolado ko naman ang laban,” said the 31-year-old fisherman’s son.

Orcollo said he’s glad to get the feel of the table after being idle for five days.

“At least, nakapa ko na ang mesa,” he said.

His probable next opponent is Japanese Masaaki Tanaka whom he has beaten before.

“Medyo mabigat ang laban dahil may tira yung Hapon,” Orcollo said.

The victory was only the second for the fancied men’s team that is aiming to improve on its one gold and one silver performance four years ago in Doha, Qatar.

Before Orcollo pulled out his cue stick, the Filipinos have dropped six of their first seven matches in the men’s division.

Reynaldo Grandea accounted for the other win, but was also promptly eliminated in the next round in the men’s carom 3 cushion singles.

Also set to make his debut Tuesday night was Warren Kiamco who’s paired against Surathe Phoochalam of Thailand.

The women are faring better with Rubilen Amit and Iris Ranola still in the hunt in the 8 and 9-ball pool singles.

On Monday, Ranola routed Haifa’a Alnaser of Kuwait, 7-1, to reach the Round of 16 against Chitchomnart of Thailand.

Also late Monday, Mark Eddiva, the last man standing in men’s sanshou, defeated Kerigh Aghaei to assure the country of a bronze medal.

Eddiva was set to face Zhang Junyong of China for a spot in the final late Tuesday.

A day following Biboy Rivera’s gold medal finish in the men’s singles, the women struggled in the singles event, all failing to get to the podium.

Sun Ok Hwang of Korea took the gold with 1395 pinfalls followed by Lin Zhi Shayna Ng (1342) and Hui Fen New (1341) of Singapore.

Liza del Rosario rolled 1157, Liza Clutario 1101, Marianne Daisy Posadas 1002, Kimberly Mae Lao 967, Lara Posadas 942 and Krizziah Lyn Tabora 903.

In swimming, the men’s relay team qualified in the 4 x 100-meter freestyle final but four tankers were eliminated during the morning heats.

Failing to qualify were Ryan Arabejo (11th, 4:03.36) and Jessie Lacuna (14th, 4:06.38) in the men’s 400-meter freestyle, Jasmine Alkahldi (12th, 26.75) in the women’s 50-meter freestyle and Charles Walker (18th, 59.57) in the men’s 100-meter backstroke.

The Filipinos also fared badly in judo and cycling.

Judokas Tomohiko Hoshina bowed to Utkir Kurbanon of Uzbekistan in the men’s open division while teammate Nancy Quillotes was beaten by Tombi Devi of India in the women’s -48 kg. division.

Over at the Guangzhou velodrome, Maritess Bitbit finished seventh with five points in the women’s point race.

Rey Bancod, Manila Bulletin