CORTEZA WINS MALAYSIAN G OLDEN BREAK 9-BALL INVITATIONAL
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 22 Aug 2011
The Philippines Lee Van Corteza has won the Malaysian Golden Break 9-Ball Asian Invitational tournament defeating Chinese-Taipei?s Ko Pin Chung in the finals, 13-8 at the Golden Break Snooker and Pool Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Corteza showed his class in the semi finals with an effortless 45 minute 11-1 thrashing of Indonesia?s Riyan Setiawan to set up a showdown with Ko who beat his elder brother Ko Pin Yi in the other semi final 11-7.
It was Ko?s second consecutive finals appearance and also his second defeat after losing to Ibrahin Amir last year.
The semi finals clash between the two brothers was a neck-to-neck battle in the first few racks before Ping Chung raced to leads of 7-4 and 10-6.
Requiring just one more rack to win and enter the finals Ko felt the pressure as Pin Yi won the 17th rack to come to within three at 10-7. But Ko had other ideas and quickly settled down to reel off rack No. 18 and book a place in the finals against Corteza.
The 2010 US Open 10-Ball champion Corteza continued his hot semi final streak into the finals, reinforcing his position as favorite in the event.
Corteza raced to a 9-0 lead against Setiawan playing near immaculate pool, leaving the Indonesian seated in his chair looking helpless. An error in the 10th rack by Corteza gave Setiawan a chance to get to the table and clinch one rack.
But that was all Corteza would concede as he quickly took the next two racks to wrap up a 11-1 win.
For his winning effort Corteza took home $7,000 and a handsome trophy to add to his already burgeoning trophy room as one of the stars of the Negros Billiards stable of pool patron Jonathan Sy while Ko Pin Chung received $3,500 and a trophy.
Three other Filipinos, Rodolfo Luat, Antonio Lining and Allan Cuartero who represented Kuwait were eliminated in the early rounds.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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