MANILA -- The RP tandem A of Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo and Ronnie “Volcano” Alcano joined their Filipino compatriots in the Last 16 of the 2009 Partycasino.net World Cup of Pool by beating their first round opponents from Thailand Wednesday night at the SM North Edsa, Quezon City.

Orcollo and Alcano, who make up Philippine Team A, scored an 8-5 win against Thais Nitiwat Kanjanasri and Surathep Phoochalam.

The Filipino tandem got a scare when the unheralded partners Kanjanasri and Phoochalam seemed headed for an upset win by posting a 5-4 lead midway the match.

"We needed to do everything right but we made a few mistakes and got nervous,” Orcollo said in a report posted on MatchRoomPool.com.

“But Ronnie said to me to not think about the mistakes and just win this match," he added.

The Filipino tandem moved into the next round with Philippine Team B, which was composed of Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante. Team B emerged triumphant last Tuesday over Qatar, 8-1.

After being one rack down, Orcollo and Alcano fought to win back the lead.

Philippines A eventually scored the next four racks to post their first victory and advance to the next round.