Zapata won the set score 3-0 against Kim Im-kwon (Welcome Savings Bank), and Palazon and Martinez also defeated Lee Sang-yong and Kim Dae-jin 3-0 to advance to the round of 16.
Zapata, who won the first World Championship title and the first individual tour title, played against Kim Im-kwon in the round of 32 and won the second and third sets 15-2 (7 innings) and 15-14 (10 innings) with 10 high runs in the first set.
Palazon, who won two career wins by winning the previous tour (Hana Card Championship), beat Daniel Sanchez (Spain·SWI) in the round of 64 and won 15-13 (5 innings), 15-11 (8 innings), and 15-0 (4 innings) against Lee Sang-yong, who advanced to the round of 32. Martinez, the “three-time champion,” also turned Kim Dae-jin, a former “challenge tour champion,” to 15-9 (12 innings), 15-12 (7 innings), and 15-5 (7 innings).
In addition, Cho Jae-ho (NH Nonghyup Card) beat Choi Jae-dong 3-1, Kim Jae-geun (Crown Haitai) beat Antonio Montes (Spain and NH Nonghyup Bank) 3-2, and Lee Sang-dae (Welcome Savings Bank) beat Kim Hyun-seok 3-2, making strides for “domestic powerhouses.” PBA Young Guns such as Cho Yeon-hwi (SK Rent-A-Car), Oh Tae-joon (Crown Haitai), and Mori Yusuke (Japan) also joined the round of 16. Vietnam Express’ Nguyen Quoc Nguyen (Hana Card) also advanced to the round of 16 by beating Kang Min-gu 3-2.
Meanwhile, the PBA round of 16 will be held four times, starting with the first game at 2:30 p.m. on the 0th, at 5:00 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 10:00 p.m.