Rodolfo Luat, the 2006 Asian 9-ball tour Taiwan leg winner and 2006 US Open runner-up, got back in contention in the Turning Stone Classic VIII at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York with victories against compatriot Gandy Valle and Mika Immonem of Finland.

The 50-year-old Luat, top player of Negros Billiard Stable, was relegated to the loser's side after losing to unheralded Chris Szuter in the second round last Friday.

Luat, however, clustered six straight wins against Sal Bevilacqua (9-4), Bob Baker (9-2), Dave Grau (9-3), Valle (9-2), Eric Hjorliefson (9-7) and Immonen (9-7) to remain in title hunt.

Luat, who is fresh from strong runner-up place finish in the 9-ball pool event of the annual Derby City Classic last January in Louisville, Kentucky also beat Tony Crosby, 9-8. Meanwhile, Filipino Warren Kiamco, a three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medallist, also won his loser's bracket match against Jeff Kennedy (9-3), conqueror of Doha Asian games medalist Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica (9-5) in the third round of the winner's side.

Gabica is already out of the tournament, after losing to Dick Cappotto (9-3) while Kiamco suffered his initial loss to Joey Korsiak (9-5) in the fifth round of winner's brackets after winning his four round assignments.

Jose "Amang" Parica and Santos Sambajon, both United States-based, are the only Filipino pool sharks in the winner's brackets after tallying their fifth straight victories.*

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