FIL-CANADIAN Alex Pagulayan teamed up with John Morra to help Canada nip Sweden, 8-7, on the first day of action of the 2012 World Cup of Pool in Robinsons’ Midtown Mall in Manila.
Pagulayan and Morra survived a late comeback by the Swedes for the win and a seat in the round-of-16.
The Canadians, bannered by Pagulayan who has since decided to represent the country where he grew up, will next face the winner of the match between Philippine B of Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes and Francisco ‘Django’ Bustamante and Hong Kong, which is still being played as of posting time.
The Canadian duo trailed 0-3, but came back and reached hill, 7-4, before the team of Marcus Chamat and Andreas Gerwen won three straight racks, including a conversion of the 9-ball on the break by Chamat in the 13th rack.
But Pagulayan and Morra captured the win in the final rack after surviving a battle of safeties.
In other matches, an ailing Ralf Souquet helped defending champion Germany defeat Serbia, 8-1.
Souquet along with Thorsten Hohman, led the Germans to victory despite being downed by food poisoning prior to the match.
“It was a difficult match because I was very weak. I haven’t eaten anything since yesterday (Monday),” said Souquet. “At least, I will have enough time to rest.”
Germany will face the winner of the Finland versus Korea match to be played on Thursday.
Thailand defeated Malaysia, 8-4, and will now face either England or Belguim.
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