PALEMBANG — World champion Dennis Orcollo advanced into the semifinals in the men’s 8-ball event of the 26th Southeast Asian Games Sunday, but needed 12 racks to dispose of Chan Keng Wang of Singapore.

Orcollo, also the reigning Asian Games 9-ball titlist, avoided the misfortune suffered by compatriot Warren Kiamco by coming back from a 0-4 deficit in the alternate break format.

Chan had a chance to take a 5-0 lead but fouled while going for the 8-ball, allowing Orcollo to get back into the table and mount a comeback. The Filipino won the next six racks despite struggling with his breaks. After Chan made it 5-6 off his break, Orcollo ran out the 12th rack to salvage the win.

Orcollo now faces Muhammad Zulfikiri of Indonesia who eliminated Nitiwat Kanjanasri of Thailand later in the day. Kiamco, the other entry in 8-ball, bowed to Nguyen Phuong Than of Vietnam, 3-7.

The Philippines bowed out in English billiards following twin losses by its representatives. Luis Saberdo was beaten by Myanmar’s Kyaw Oo, 1-4 while Felipe Tauro Jr. yielded to Nay Thay Oo also of Myanmar, 0-3.

Halfway through Day 3, the Filipinos only had two bronzes to show courtesy of Niño Surban in the men’s mountain bike cross country race and Jayson Ramil Mac in the men’s 60 kg. and below kumite.

Surban actually finished fourth behind three Indonesians, but was awarded the bronze because tournament rules don’t allow one country to win all three medals.

Surban clocked 1:35.27, over six minutes behind gold winner Chandra Rafsanjani who timed 1:29.08. BandiSugito took the silver in 1:30.10. With more than half of the gold medals still up for grabs, the Filipinos

remain in fourth place in the overall race with four gold, two silvers and seven bronzes.

Indonesia pulled away in the medal race with 30 gold, 21 silvers and 12 bronzes followed by Thailand 9-11-12, Singapore 9-10-10 and Vietnam 8-9-14. The Filipinos won four gold on Friday, two each from athletics and taekwondo.

Marestella Torres and Rene Herrera defended their titles in the women’s long jump and 3,000-meter steeplechase, respectively. In taekwondo, celebrated cousins Rani Ann Ortega, Camille Alarilla and Janice Lagman retained their women’s poomsae crown while Maria Camille Manalo took the women’s lightweight title.

The Filipinos also won two silvers through Joey Barba in the men’s downhill in mountain bike and Vidal Martin Gabriel and Shaneen Ched Sia in the poomsae mixed pair event.

The bronzes were delivered by Loralie Sermona in women’s hammer throw, Katherine Santos in women’s long jump, OJ delos Santos in men’s individual kata, Erica Selin Samon in women’s kumite 50kg. and Gabriel in the men’s individual poomsae.

Defending champions Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla and Rosie Villarito plunge into action in the finals of the men’s 25-meter rapid fire and women’s javelin throw events later in the day.

Also on tap are final events in swimming, athletics, karate and taekwondo.