Former world pool champ Alex Pagulayan and newly crowned Villar Cup king Roberto Gomez barged into the knockout stage of the ongoing 9th Annual Predator International 10-Ball Championship at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

According to sports Website BilliardPhilippines.com, Paguyalan racked his third straight win by overwhelming veteran internationalist Mike Davis, 10-3. Gomez also posted win number three by demolishing Charlie Bryant, 10-1.

Both cue masters advanced into the last 32 via the winners’ bracket in the event organized by Dragon Promotions.

Pagulayan is looking to win another title after losing his World Pool Master crown to Nick Van de Berg of Holland.

“Ganun naman talaga yan eh. God is fair, you cannot win them but I tried my best. My opponent just played better,” Pagulayan said.

Pagulayan earlier beat Melissa Little and Kurt Kobayashi before facing Davis.

“Alex does it best than anybody I ever seen. His stroke, the accuracy that he has, the choices of his position that he plays… He is a great player,” said Kobayashi.

Gomez, on the other hand, won his first two matches against Matt Krah and Max Eberle.

Former Villar Cup leg winner Warren Kiamco also made it into the third round unscathed. After luckily drawing a first round bye, he blasted Kim Shaw and followed it up with a win over compatriot Lee Van Corteza.

Not as lucky was former world no.1 Dennis Orcollo, who was upset by Tony Robles, 10-6, and was sent to the losers’ bracket, joining countrymen Rodolfo Luat, Ramil Gallego, Jose “Amang” Parica, Santos Sambajon, Al Lapena, and Corteza.

The competition will wrap up on Saturday when the winner will go home with the title and the $20,000 top prize that goes with it. With a report from Bev Llorente, ABS-CBN news North America Bureau