CORTEZA ENTERS PATTAYA 9-BALL FINALS FOR AN ALL-FILIPINO FINALE
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 03 Oct 2010
MANILA -- TWO-TIME National Open Champion Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza of the Philippines got a final-round berth in the 2010 Sangsom Pattaya 9-Ball Invitational Pool Competition at the Royal Garden Plaza in Pattaya, Thailand today.
The 31-year-old Corteza, whose stint in Thailand is backed up by Kopiko and Energen, subdued Liu Hui Chang of Chinese-Taipei, 10-4, to arranged an all Filipino finale in the event that offers 300,000 Baht prize money to the champion.
"Masayang-masaya po ako kasi nakapasok ako sa finals dito sa Pattaya," said Corteza, top player of Jonathan Sy's Negros Billiards Stable (NBS) who scored back-to-back victories on Saturday to advance to the semi-final round yesterday.
"Magandang balita ang pagkapanalo ni Van-Van (Corteza) dahil tiyak ng All Filipino finale sa Pattaya 9-ball meet, hindi na tayo kakabahan pa," said long-time billiards patron Jonathan "Bacolod" Sy, also the chairman of the newly-formed National Collegiate Billiards League (NCBL).
The Davao City native Corteza, top player of Jonathan Sy's Negros Billiards Stable (NBS) ousted Nitiwat Kanjanasri of Thailand (9-4) in the Last 16 and Fu Chi Wei of Chinese-Taipei (9-7) in the Last 8 to advance to the Final Four yesterday against Liu, who beat Filipino pool legend Efren "Bata" Reyes (9-3) in the quarterfinal round.
Dennis "Robocop" Orcullo and Ronato "Volcano" Alcano of the Philippines are disputing the other finals berth. The Bislig, Surigao del Sur native Orcullo, the top player of Perry Mariano's Bugsy Promotions outclassed Chris Melling of England (9-5) and Liu Chien Chieh of Chinese-Taipei (9-6), respectively while the Calamba,Laguna ace Alcano, also supported by Perry Mariano's Bugsy Promotions stopped the winning run of Lee Chenman of Hongkong (9-4) and Stevie Moore of the United States (9-8), in order.
Last Friday, Corteza crushed Kevin Fortt of Great Britain (9-1) in the Last 32, Orcullo routed Ophas Suwannarat of Thailand (9-3), Alcano waylaid Somkuan Tianponkrang of Thailand (9-5) and Reyes clobbered Sompol Saetang of Thailand (9-1).
Corteza, Orcullo, Alcano and Reyes, playing under the banner of Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) made it to the tournament proper through Captain Prajit Phichaisornlatat, Chairman of the Q Sport Bangkok Association invitation, the event sponsor and organizer.
The Final is race to 11, Winner Break format.
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