Pag-aagawan ng Philippine Billiards Team at China 2 ang korona at nakatayang $80,000 premyo sa 2014 World Pool Team Championship sa Tongzhou, Luhe High School sa Beijing, China.

Ito ay matapos na biguin ng Pilipinas, binubuo nina Dennis Orcollo, Lee Van Corteza, Carlo Biado at Rubilen Amit, ang mga pambato ng China 1 sa matinding 4-0 panalo sa semifinals noong Biyernes.

Binigo naman ng China 2, na kinabibilangan nina Liu Haitao, Dang Ching Hu, Wang Can, Fu Xiaofang at Liu Shasha, ang nakatagpong Japan, 4-2, upang harapin ang Filipino cue artists.

Habang sinusulat ito ay nakatakdang ganapin ang kampeonato sa ganap na alas-2:00 ng hapon

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Tinalo ni Orcollo ang dating world champion na si Wu Jiaqing, 6-3, sa men’s 8-Ball singles, habang dinominahan nina Corteza at Biado sina Chu Bing Chia at Li He Wen, 6-1, sa men’s 8-Ball doubles.

Nagwagi si Corteza kay Li, 8-3, sa men’s 9-Ball bago tuluyang tinapos ni Amit ang impresibong paglalaro ng Pambansang koponan sa 8-3 panalo sa World Women’s 9-Ball champion na si Han Yu, sa women’s 9-Ball.

“Nahirapan kami noong huling laro at mabuti na lamang naka-survive,” sinabi ni Orcollo na ikinatuwa ang matinding laro ni Amit. “So we felt good out there today. We were talking about it today, how to prepare. I told the team we need to play better, play aggressive, don’t be scared, don’t show weakness, don’t give them a chance. If we have the chances, we have to go for the kill, for the finish.”

“She’s doing good. We are behind her all the way. If she makes a mistake, we are there to help her. I think having us here helps give her more confidence,” sambit ni Orcollo sa natatanging miyembrong babae ng koponan.

Umaasa ang koponan na hindi lamang makapagbigay ng prestihiyosong karangalan sa bansa ang pagkunra sa titulo kundi ang muling mabuhay ang propesyonal na bilyar sa bansa.

“I hope that a win in the final would help revive the pro game in the Philippines, which has nearly died over the last three years. Maraming cue artists na tulad ko at kasamahan ko ang nawalan ng mapagkakakitaan sa atin at dapat pa na magtrabaho sa labas ng bansa,” giit pa ni Orcollo.

“I hope we can win this tournament so that the sport of pool can rise again in the Philippines,” dagdag ni Orcollo. “As of now, our sport doesn’t have the support of any big companies in the Philippines. The Filipino people still love pool but no big companies want to sponsor any tournaments. I hope the big companies can see the great things we are doing and recognise us and bring a big tournament to the Philippines. Winning this event could be a window for us to get back to what it was like when Efren (Reyes) was world champion.”