Dennis Orcollo and Carlo Biado punched their respective tickets to the final four of the 2021 US Open Pool Championship, Saturday (Manila time) at the Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
But the path to the semifinals was different for the two Filipinos.
Orcollo dominated Austrian Mario He, 11-6, in the last 16 before eliminating He’s compatriot Max Lechner, 11-7, to book his slot for the final day of this tournament that has a $300,000 prize pool.
Photo from Matchroom Pool
On the other hand, Biado had to go through a good friend of his en route to the semis.
Biado outlasted Spaniard David Bermudez in his sweet sixteen assignment, 11-10, to set up a showdown with Johann Chua, who defeated Canadian John Morra, 11-8, later in the day.
In the quarterfinals, Biado and Chua figured in a back-and-forth affair with the former racking up an 11-10 win.
Not as fortunate is Rodrigo Geronimo.
Geronimo defeated Estonian Denis Grabe, 11-10, in the last 16 but bowed to Singaporean Aloysius Yapp in the quarters, 6-11.
Chua and Geronimo pocket $6,250 each for their quarterfinal finish while Orcollo and Biado are guaranteed at least $12,000 each.
Orcollo is looking to make his third finals appearance in this tournament, doing so back in 2012 and 2014 but falling to Shane Van Boening both times.
Orcollo faces Yapp while Biado takes on Japan’s Naoyuki Oi in the race-to-11 semis. The final will be a race to 13.
The last time a Filipino took down the US Open title was back in 1994. That person was none other than Efren “Bata” Reyes.
