BCA HALL OF FAME WELCOMES TWO NEW MEMBERS

By Keith Loria

The Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame will welcome Filipino star Dennis Orcollo and legendary instructor Jerry Briesath into the sport’s most prestigious club in 2022. The event will take place on Friday, Nov. 4, at the Norfolk Sheraton Waterside Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia, in conjunction with the 2022 International Open pool tournament.

The 43-year-old Orcollo was the clear choice of voters in the Greatest Players category and will be the fourth player representing the Philippines to be inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame, join- ing Pinoy legends Efren Reyes, Francisco Bustamante and Jose Parica.

Over a stellar career, the man nicknamed “Robocop” won the WPA World 8-Ball Championship in 2011; the BCA Open 9-Ball Championship in 2007; the Qatar World Open in 2008; the World Pool Masters in 2010; and the China Open in 2012.

He’s also been a dominant force at the annual Derby City Classic, winning the 9-ball division twice (2011, 2017), the Banks division twice (2014, 2020), and the Master of the Table crown twice (2017, 2020). Orcollo also holds major titles in 8-ball, 9-ball, straight pool, 10-ball, one-pocket and banks.

Jay Helfert, a notable expert in the billiard world, notes one only needs to look at Orcollo’s record over the last dozen years to see that he’s won more money in tournaments than anyone.

“Every year, he’s either the first- or second-leading money winner,” Helfert says. “And he’s probably won more tournaments than just about anyone, with the only one who might be close is Shane [Van Boening] and I’m including tournaments held in pool rooms, because many of them are big events with strong fields of players.”

He also calls Orcollo the “Money Game King” of the Philippians, the “Money Game King” of Southeast Asia, and the “Money Game King” of the planet.

Outside the game, Helfert notes Orcollo is a fun-loving guy, likes to sing karaoke and will partake in a few beers with the guys, though never at an event.

“He knows when it’s business, but he likes to enjoy himself and go out at night with his buddies or family,” he says. “He lives good in the Philippines. He’ll go to the spa and spend the full day, and he’s taken me before. He’s a good man and if he’s your friend, he’s your friend for life.”

Sadly, Orcollo was deported from the United States in early January for overstaying and is now reportedly banned from entering the country for five years. A large number of billiard friends are fighting for a reprieve for him.

“We have another hearing in September and I wish him the best,” Helfert says. “We have the best lawyers and politicians fighting on his behalf. The only good news is he can play anywhere else in the world, and there are a lot more events happening around the world.”

The 85-year-old Briesath was a unanimous selection in the Meritorious Service category. The legendary instructor is considered the father of formal billiard instruction in America, having helped develop and guide the program from concept to its current roster of more than 300 professional instructors across the globe.

Briesath was an active pro player in the ’60s and ’70s, a longtime poolroom owner in Madison, Wisconsin, and helped launch the BCA Certified Instructor Program (now known as the Professional Billiard Instructors Association) in 1992 and the BCA Summer Youth Cue Camps in 1993. He also helped create the BCA’s “How to Play Pool Right” book and video.

“Do I deserve it? I’m just doing something I love to do,” Briesath says, when asked about what the Hall of Fame means to him. “I was stunned when I got the call. I know it’s so hard to get in and they take so few, and I know a lot of others deserve it.”

Come November, Briesath and his family will be heading down to the ceremony, something he has done almost every year the Hall of Fame has held its annual dinner – almost a half a century.

“It’s really exciting to know that this is happening; holy cow,” he says. “I love to teach pool, and when I teach at the kids’ tournaments and hear about their accomplishments, it just means the world to me.”

The same is true when he helps professionals, such as Jeanette Lee, who credits Briesath with getting her game back after falling into a slump.

Briesath played golf in high school and first entered a billiard room on the Marquette campus in Milwaukee after graduating.

“I fell in love with it and started playing every chance I could,” he says. Briesath was so good that when he entered a tournament, the director thought he was hustling everyone. Eventually, everyone realized just how amazing a player he was – despite being new to the sport.

After about four years of playing, his friend, Willis Covington had a stroke, and when he went to visit him in the hospital, Covington told him he had to teach his class at the YMCA.

“I had no idea what I was doing, so I went scared to death, and there were about eight people in the class,” Briesath says. “It was three weeks for two hours that cost $7.50 a person. I got half the money.”

He found he was good at it, and soon his classes were attracting more and more people – and soon Briesath was making more than any of the YMCA employees.

“By that time, I was the best player in Wisconsin,” he says.

Briesath will be sharing more of his favorite stories from his career at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Voting for the 2022 BCA Hall of Fame was conducted by the USBMA Hall of Fame Board, which consists of USBMA members, elected at-large members and living members of the Hall of Fame.