Source : Matchroompool.com
IN ANOTHER final rack decider, Team Switzerland came from behind to send one of the pre-tournament favourites Philippines A, consisting of Dennis Orcollo and Lee Van Corteza, crashing out of the PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool by a 8-7 score line and silence a capacity home crowd in Manila.
The Swiss duo of current EPBF No.1 Dimitri Jungo and his partner Ronni Regli, created a big upset last year at this event when they KO'd defending champions China in their opening match, but on this type of form they look a fair bet to beat anyone.
Regli, based in Zurich is half Filipino and a bit of an unknown as he no longer pursues a full time pool career, while Jungo from Bern is a former WPA Junior World Champion.
"It's a very big win for us. It's great to win here. I have mixed feelings because I'm part Filipino and I have a piece of this country. I know they all want a Filipino to win but a Filipino did win," said Regli.
Jungo and Regli had trailed 4-1 and 6-2 and looked second best as the Filipinos appeared to be running away with a match that looked scrappy at times. But slowly, the Swiss began to climb the hill back into the match.
A dry break from Orcollo allowed Switzerland to get to the table and win one back and then a missed 4 ball from Corteza created another opportunity and the Europeans took the score to 6-4.
Just when they needed to catch a gear they did and the Swiss pair broke and ran the next to get within one. They traded the next two racks and the score stood at 7-6. Jungo made a terrific full table jump in the next and left position for Regli and they ran out to make it the third hill-hill of the tournament.
Just when they needed it, they executed the perfect run out under difficult circumstances to secure a second round tie against either Italy or Vietnam.
Jungo commented, "We had some problems at the start of the match but we know we can beat them. You always have to stay positive in pool and I think that's what we did. Ronnie played perfect.
"When they were up 4-1 they were in rhythm and I was surprised that they gave us some chances. So we took it."
"This is a big win for us because they are one of the best teams in the tournament, but we don't want to think too far ahead. Last year we beat China then lost to Sweden in the 2nd round so we just have to take it one game at a time."
A stunned Orcollo said, "We had too many illegal breaks and dry breaks. That's why we lost. If we don't have all that, we'll win. That's it."
Corteza added, "We can only look forward. It's part of the game, these things happen. We are disappointed because all the Filipinos are expecting us to win but all we can do is look forward. That's pool."
The 2012 PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool runs from Tuesday September 4 to Sunday, September 9 at Robinson's Place, Ermita, Manila. Once again the total prize fund is US$250,000 with $60,000 going to the eventual champions. Tickets for the extravaganza will be available at the venue on the day of play but with plentiful balconies offering superb views of the playing arena, organisers are anticipating crowds in the thousands rather than hundreds.
In the earlier match, Chinese Taipei, represented by highly touted youngsters Han En-hsu and Hsin Ting-chen, had a struggle against the Indonesian pair of Roy Apancho and Muhammad Bewi Simanjuntak.
The Taiwanese are aged 19 and 18 respectively, but played with great assuredness and maturity against quality opposition. They can now look forward to playing Japan or Russia.
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