Former Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) gold medalist Victor Arpilleda scored back-to-back victories against lower-rated opponents to share the lead with 2004 WPA World Pool runner-up Chang Pei-wei at the start of World Ten-Ball Championship qualifying tournament on Tuesday at the famous Star Paper Billiards Center in Quezon City.

The Indonesia-based Arpilleda, best remembered for winning the prestigious gold medal in the 1997 Southeast Asian Games, brought down compatriot Alex Nobleza, 7-5, then blasted Singaporean Ricky Chew, 7-0 for a 2-0 tally. He will next meet Taiwanese Chung Chien-ten in the next round. Chung won over Indian Bhudinder Singh Monga, 7-1 and Jorge “Totoy” Dacer, 7-2, respectively.

Chang, on the other hand nipped local bets Roland dela Cruz, 7-4, and Richard Alinsub, 7-3, in the qualifying event for the World Ten-Ball which offers 12 slots to the tournament proper.

Also with two wins were Lai Cha-hsiung, Liu Cheng-chuan and Hsu chun-yang of Chinese-Taipei.

Lai crushed Ray Par Carey of Singapore, 7-4, and Lin Chien-Hsing of Taiwan, 7-1; Liu beat Toshihidne Hamasaki of Japan, 7-3 and Cebuano Jestoni Magadia, 7-2 while Hsu crushed Romeo del Rosario, 7-3 and James Al Ortega, 7-3.

No less than former cabinet member Mike “Idol” Defensor led the traditional ceremonial break along with BSCP chairman and Raya Sports president Yen Makabenta and BSCP treasurer Sebastian Chua.

Meanwhile, the 128-man main draw of the World Ten-Ball Championship gets going on September 29 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.