(l to r): Dennis Orcollo, Legends co-owner and tournament director Mindy Cohen & Roberto Gomez
Dennis Orcollo and Roberto Gomez repeated their performance at the 28th Houston Open by finishing as winner and runner-up at the 29th Houston Open, held this past weekend (Sept. 7-8). Gomez decided to spice things up this year. Instead of advancing to a winners’ side semifinal, being sent to the loss side (by Francisco Bustamante), winning three there and challenging Orcollo in the finals as he did last year, Gomez lost his second match to Orcollo 9-2 and then proceeded to win 11 on the loss side to meet Orcollo in the finals. That part of their 2018 meeting stayed the same, albeit with Gomez chalking up a few less racks (9-6 in 2018, 9-2 in 2019). The $7,500-added event drew 93 entrants to Legends Billiards in League City, TX.
Orcollo was awarded an opening round bye and sent Gomez on his loss-side journey in the second round, before navigating his way through two straight double hill wins over Sajal Ghimire and Josh Roberts. He then defeated John Morra 9-3 to arrive at a winners’ side semifinal against what Legends Billiards co-owner and tournament director Mindy Cohen called a “blast from the past,” an older Filippino player, Edgar Acaba.
Robb Saez, in the meantime, who’d finished in the tie for 7th place last year, when defeated by Warren Kiamco, followed an opening round bye with victories over Ray Hansen, Manny Chau, Jerry Alvarez and Leon Contreras, before squaring off in the other winners’ side semifinal against Alex Calderon.
Orcollo downed fellow countryman Acaba 9-5 and in the hot seat match faced Saez, who’d sent Calderon west 9-6. Orcollo then sent Saez off to the semifinals 9-4 and waited in the hot seat for Gomez to finish his somewhat epic loss-side journey.
With six notches on his loss-side belt, Gomez defeated Leon Contreras 7-1 and chalked up a surprising strong victory against Josh Roberts 7-3 to draw Acaba in his first loss-side match. Calderon drew John Morra, who’d defeated Brian Sanders 7-3 and Jerry Alvarez 7-5 to reach him.
Gomez and Calderon advanced to the quarterfinals on the heels of identical 7-5 victories over Acaba and Morra, respectively. And then, building momentum, Gomez chalked up loss-side win #10, eliminating Calderon 7-4.
Gomez reduced his opponents’ number of racks by an additional one, as he spoiled Saez’ bid for a rematch against Orcollo 7-3 in the semifinals. In a ‘déjà vu all over again’ scenario, Gomez and Orcollo greeted each other as finalists at the Houston Open for the second straight year.
Second verse, same as the first. Gomez needed to defeat Orcollo twice. He only chalked up two racks in the first set, eliminating the need for a second. Orcollo walked away with his second straight Houston Open title.
In addition to paying out the top 24 finishers in the event, the Houston Open paid $150 to the top female finisher in the event, which proved to be three women who tied for the prize. They were all from the same family and split the money – Madonna Springs, Gayla Toms and Shyenne Toms (age 12).
Co-owners of Legend Billiards and tournament directors Mindy Cohen and Ted Dean thanked their entire staff for their cooperation and assistance during the weekend run of the tournament, as well as Jerry Olivier Cues for contributing the $1,200 cue that got raffled and was won by Elizabeth Sturges. Cohen and Dean also thanked Ray Hansen and his entire PoolActionTV staff for streaming selected matches of the event all weekend.
On the heels of the Manny Pacquiao Cup event in September of this year, Manny Pacquiao will once again bring pool to the public eye in the Philippines when he hosts the Philippine Open 10-Ball Championship this December in General Santos City Philippines.
A guaranteed prize pool of $50,000 will be up for grabs in the Ten Ball Singles Championship, a title won by Thorsten Hohmann when he defeated Roberto Gomez by a thrilling score of 13 – 12 last September. This event will be immediately followed by the $100,000 Ten Ball Doubles Championship, won in September by Jeffrey Ignacio and Jeffrey De Luna where they beat the first time pairing of Thorsten Hohmann and John Morra in the finals.
The Pasay International 10 Ball Cup will be held April 26-29, 2012 at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City, Philippines. Players meeting and entry fee deadline coincide at 6:00 PM April 25, at the Players Meeting.
The total prize fund for this event is $60,000 with $30,000 going to the winner and $10,000 to second place. The entry fee is $200. To register or for more information please contact Edgar Acaba at: bscp2010_edgar@hotmail.com.
The PACMAN International 10-Ball Cup will kick off in Manila, Philippines, on December 13 at Star Billiard Center and will run through December 18 with $60,000 in prize money on offer for the players.
The PACMAN Cup is sponsored by Manny Paquiao and is organized by Tournament Director Edgar Acaba. For Further information please contact Mr. Acaba at: bscp2010_edgar@hotmail.com.
When you walk in the door to Bristol Billiards in Bristol CT, you just know that this is an action room. The gold crowns, the lights, Simonis cloth, 3 tight boxes, a billiard table and 17 tables with 4,5" pockets. That is what Steve Mahoney and his manager George Texiera want you to know, that is how they set it up. A players room. So when Mike Zuglan brought his Joss tour there this past week end along with 62 players it had to be a great tournament and it was.
Players from all over as far away as New Zealand, Philippines, Ireland and Spain along with the usual great players making up the best tour in the country. Right from the beginning Saturday till the finals on Sunday, great matches, hill hill, strong comebacks and just good pool. Mike Zuglan and Robb Saez battling hill hill with Zugan getting the win this time. Frankie Hernandez having Karen Corr 8-3 when Karen got Frankie on 3 fouls and played her heart out to get to 8-7 before Hernandez got the chance to get out and did. All day was like this and surviving undefeated for Sundays action was Carlos Vieira, Joe Tucker, Ryan McCreesh, Al Lapena, Frank Hernandez, George Texiera, Edgar Acaba and Mike Zuglan. On the one loss side we had cashing for his first time on the Joss Tour was David Gold vs Mike Davis, Cisco Diaz vs Rich Ross, Nelson Oliviera vs Chris Biddle and Ted Garrihan vs Robb Saez.
On Sunday it took Edgar Acaba to stop Mike Zuglan for the first time in his last 11 matches from last week end to now. Acaba played great for the two days and was not going to be denied as he sat in the hot seat. Playing through the one loss side Zuglan was again in dead stroke. With over $6900 in the prize fund and two of the nicest trophies this writer has ever seen at a tournament, he beat everyone else to meet up with Acaba for revenge. But the Filipino was not going to be denied and beat Zuglan 9-5. This was Edgar's first Joss win and I am sure not his last.
This was a great tournament and we can't say enough to Steve Mahoney, his wife Kat and their staff. We look forward to next year when the Joss tour will join Billy Zhuta in memorializing his son and adding a lot more money. Our thanks to Mike Webb, Webb Custom Cues for being there and setting up along with being a sponsor, Capone Cues, Giuseppe case, Simonis cloth and Joss Cues Ltd.
On one of the most beautiful weekends of fall, Mike Zuglan brought his Joss Northeast Tour into Glens Falls, NY for a $1500 added tournament at Adirondack Billiards. Host Joe Stanislowsky and Bob Talbot added the money and 41 players showed. Competition was great and the great fans got to see some great pool.
Mike Davis came out firing and beat Saez in their first match and then beat Ray Cruz to go to the hot seat. Cruz had just beat Zuglan 9-3 and was playing great when he and Davis went to the hill. Both players in the hill match missed key shots and when Cruz tried to cut a seven ball the length of the table he jawed it and Davis won. Robbie Saez went through the one loss side Beating McCreesh on the hill, then Mike Zuglan and Ray Cruz. In the finals Mr. Saez was not to be denied. Winning both sets he took home the beautiful trophy and the cash.
Thanks to Adirondack Billiards and their staff. We look forward to returning again next year for another great event.
