GUANGZHOU – The Philippines retained the men’s 9-ball pool singles title and sent two taekwondo fighters into the semifinals on Thursday in the 16th Asian Games.
Just hours after posting stirring semifinal victories, Dennis Orcollo and Warren Kiamco fought in an entertaining final which Orcollo won, 9-7, coming back from a two-rack deficit.
After an uneventful start Wednesday, the Filipinos picked up the pace in taekwondo when Marlon Avenido and Jade Zafra trounced separate opponents to assure the country of at least two bronze medals.
While awaiting progress from taekwondo, boxers Victorio and Rey Saludar climbed the ring later in the day, hoping to join Wilfredo Lopez in the next round of their respective weight divisions.
Miguel Molina advanced into the 100-meter breaststroke final in swimming and the chess players began their campaign in the men’s team standard event.
After a string of heartbreak losses in billiards that included Rubilen Amit’s exit in the women’s 9-ball event Wednesday, the Filipinos redeemed themselves in the event they hold dear.
Facing separate opponents in the semifinals, Orcollo was first to finish his match, sending home Korean Jeong Young Hwa, 9-3, after racing to a 6-1 lead.
Orcollo had more trouble handling the foreign media than Jeong who dug his own grave with his sloppy pocketing.
Kiamco, on the other hand, found Ko Pin Yi a tough nut to crack, needing a delicate cut shot on the blue ball on the 13th rack to forge ahead, 7-6, on his way to a 9-7 win.
“Nagtatalo isip ko kung kunin ko na o i-safety ko na lang,” said Kiamco, referring to what he thought was the turning point of the match.
A small gallery of Filipinos, led by PH chief of mission Joey Romasanta, rose on their seats to celebrate the win.
There was little tension in the final with both players mixing brilliant shots with unexpected misses.
Although Kiamco built 5-3 and 7-5 leads, Orcollo managed to draw level and win the critical 15th rack following a battle of safeties.
Down, 7-8, Kiamco had another dry break, sending Orcollo back to clean the table.
Orcollo shook Kiamco’s hand, smiled, raised his right fist and shouted Pilipinas as the crowd applauded.
Orcollo and Kiamco duplicated the 1-2 finish of Antonio Gabica and Jeff de Luna four years ago in Doha, Qatar.
Avenido, one of three fighters tipped to end the country’s Asiad gold medal drought in taekwondo, clobbered two opponents to book a spot in the semifinals.
He outclassed Khalil Hamad Wadee of Brunei, 7-3, and edged Saudi Arabia’s Hani Han Almutrafi, 10-9, in the men’s under 80-kg class.
Jade Zafra, on the other hand, humbled Tseng Yi Hsuan of Chinese-Taipei, 12-1, in the women’s under 53-kg class.
The lone Filipino casualty in taekwondo was Karla Jane Alava who lost to Sousa Hajipourgoli of Iran, 1-7.
Rey Bancod, Manila Bulletin
