MANILA, Philippines – Dennis "Robocop” Orcollo and Ronnie "Volcano" Alcano, two of the country's best hopes in the 2010 World 9-Ball Championship, follow compatriots Francisco “Django” Bustamante and Allan “Surigao” Cuartero in the Last 64 by fashioning out smashing victories late Thursday at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation hall in Doha, Qatar.

The 2010 World Pool Masters champ Orcollo defeated Chis Milling of Great Britain, 9-4, while former 8- and 9-Ball world champion Alcano subdued David "El Matador" of Spain, 9-5.

Both Orcollo and Alcano are members of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).

Other Filipino players who have already made it into the Last 64 were Antonio "Nickoy" Lining, Venancio "Tukao" Tanio, Oliver Medenilla, Francisco Felisilda, Raymund Faraon, Israel "Amay" Rota, Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo and Joven Alba.

The 2010 World 9-Ball event sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) offers a $250,000 total pot with the champion getting the $36,000 top prize.

"Suwerte lamang. Laging pabor ‘yong bola sa akin kaya naunahan ko siya agad," said Orcollo, who plays under Perry Mariano’s Bugsy Promotions.

"Sana mahawakan nina Dennis at Ronnie at iba pang Filipino pool players ang kanilang momentum sa knock-out stage," said Perry Mariano.

However, 2010 US Open 10-ball ruler Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza was not as fortunate as Orcollo and Alcano as he yielded to Christian Reimering of Germany, 5-9. Corteza was relegated to the losers' brackets.

Corteza, Antonio “Gaga” Gabica, Jeffrey "The Bull" de Luna and 2010 Player of the Decade Efren "Bata" Reyes would have to win their respective matches to advance to the next round. – by Marlon Bernardino