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After the first day of intense competition, Chinese-Taipei remains the benchmark for nine-ball excellence as four out of its six representatives - Yang Ching-Shun, Chang Jung-Lin, Wu Chia-Ching and Ko Pin-Yi - are through to the quarter finals of the Guinness 9-Ball Tour 2008, an impressive feat considering the rest of Asia were determined to shut them out following their dominance in the previous edition.

Yang earned a quarterfinals berth after a hard-fought 9-8 win over 2004 WPA World Pool Champion Alex 'The Lion' Pagulayan and overcoming Indonesia's Siaw Wieto 9-3.

Despite Pagulayan being in the driver's seat in the final frame of their match, a sudden lapse in concentration saw him miss a make-able pot at the orange five. Kaohsiung's 'Son of Pool' took the opportunity to capitalize on the silly mistake and claimed the match.

Last year's Grand Finals Champion Chang, on the other hand effortlessly paved his way to the next round by defeating Antonio Gabica of the Philippines, 9-6 and Budi Sumarno of Indonesia, 9-4. 2005 WPA World Pool Champion Wu had the easiest road to the final eight with relaxed wins over Indian Sumit Talwar, 9-2, and Indonesian Ricky Yang, 9-4.

Rounding up the contingent of Chinese-Taipei quarterfinalists is defending 2007 WPA World Pool Junior Champion Ko Pin-Yi, who rose above the hype surrounding the 18 year old pool sensation by overwhelming Singapore's Aaron Koh, 9-3 and Filipino veteran campaigner Marlon Manalo, 9-6.

Meanwhile, the Philippines' Jeffrey De Luna and Joven Bustamante continued to produce stellar pool in the evening sessions of Day 1's preliminary rounds to march into the quarterfinals as well.

Picking up where he left off, De Luna, who earlier relied on his power breaks to edge past Vietnam's reigning 8-Ball and 9-Ball National champion Do Hoang Quan, 9-8, demolished Nitiwat Kanjanasri of Thailand in an emphatic 9-5 victory.

Voicing his jubilation after the match, De Luna exclaimed: "I feel like I'm on top form. My confidence is high, my stroke is good and with luck I might be able to win this tournament!"

With his dual wins, De Luna has earned the right to square off opposite Chinese-Taipei's boy wonder Ko.

Top ranked Bustamante delivered the goods as well, as he overcame a slow start to overpower Malaysia's Alan Tan 9-6, to padding his earlier group stage win versus local bet Chang Pei-Wei to power into the round of eight.

Bustamante, a quarter finalist in the 2007 WPA World Pool Championships, will get to test his cueing skills against 2007 Singapore leg finalist Ibrahim Bin Amir who displayed outstanding pool as he registered wins against Chinese-Taipei's number one ranked cue-artist Wang Hung-Hsiang, 9-5, and lone Korean representative Ryu Seung-Woo, 9-6.

Giving the Filipino team hope is the possible scenario of two Chinese Taipei players clashing head on in the semifinals as they are bracketed together in the top half of the draw.

Wu faces his close friend and mentor Yang in the quarters with the winner of that match taking on either Japan's Satoshi Kawabata or Chang in the semi finals which will be held on Sunday, March 02, 2008.

Asked about the likely chance of him and compatriot Joven Bustamante facing off in the semis, De Luna remarked, "I will definitely still try my best because Joven is always a dangerous opponent although either way, it will be good for the Philippines since it will mean that a Filipino will go into the Finals."

Exclusive broadcast of Asia's premier pool competition continues LIVE on STAR Sports. Telecast times for Day 2 and Day 3 of the competition are as follows:

Sat, 01 March, 2008                   from 12.00pm (HKT)                   Quarterfinals (4 Matches)
Sun, 02 March, 2008                  from 12.00pm (HKT)                   Semifinals & Finals (3 Matches)

(TV Schedules subject to change without prior notice)

The Guinness 9Ball Tour is sanctioned by the Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU) and organized by ESPN STAR Sports' Event Management Group (EMG). Taipei City Government is the co-organiser for the Chinese Taipei leg while Guinness is the title sponsor for the Tour. The local sanctioning body is the Chinese Taipei Billiards Association and Iwan Simonis and Aramith supply the official tablecloth and official balls respectively. Brunswick provides the official pool table while Predator is the official cue. The Official Hotel is the Sherwood Hotel while STAR Sports is the official broadcaster.

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