Former World Pool champion Alex Pagulayan demolished Taiwanese Ro Li-wen, 9-6, Sunday to win the 17th Japan 9-Ball Open in Tokyo, Japan.
Pagulayan, a native of Cabagan, Isabela, but who is now based in Toronto, Canada, captured the top prize of 1.5 million yen (about P675,00) in clinching his first major title this year.
The 2004 world pool champion had eliminated compatriot and defending champion Antonio Lining, 9-6, to reach the finals.
Pagulayan, also the 2005 US Open champion and 2006 BSCP national titlist in Manila, beat Naoyuki Ooi of Japan in the quarterfinals, 9-6, after hurdling fellow Filipino Rodolfo Luat in the round of 16, 9-5.
Ro Li-wen secured the other title slot at the expense of fellow Taiwanese Kuo Po-cheng, 9-6.
Lining made it to the semifinals by ousting Ramil Gallego, 9-5, after surviving Dennis Orcollo, 9-6, in the round of 16.
Also reaching the round-of-16 were Kuo Po-Cheng of Chinese-Taipei, Naoyuki Ooi, 17-year-old Hayato Hijikata and Mekari Tomoki of Japan and former world No. 1 Francisco “Django” Bustamante and Roel Esquillo of the Philippines.
Other Filipinos who saw action were Efren “Bata” Reyes, double world champion Ronato Alcano, Lee Van Corteza, Jharome Peña and last year’s runner-up Dondon Razalan.
Advancing to the quarterfinals in the ladies division were Japanese Akimi Kajitani, Kawahara Chihiro, Yukawa Keiko, Fuke Miyuki, Sone Kyoko and Shimizu Kazuko and Lai Hui-shan of Chinese-Taipei.