CORTEZA BEATS ALCANO; TOPS VILLAR CUP; POCKETS P400,000

MANILA, PHILIPPINES—REIGNING national champion Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza defeated double world champion (WPA 9-ball and 8-ball) champion Ronato “Calamba” Alcano, 9-4, in the finals to rules the just concluded 2010 Manny Villar Cup 10-ball tournament late Friday here at the One Side Billiards and Café Bar in Mabini, Manila.

“Winning a tournament wherein you have to compete against the country’s bests players is a very big accomplishment, and I’m very happy for this win,” said Corteza, the top player of Jonathan Sy’s Negros Billiard Stable.

“I got my confidence after winning against him Nickoy (Antonio Lining),” added Negros Billiard Stable ace Corteza, one of six players representing the country in the first World Team Championship in Hannover, Germany, from Jan. 30 to Feb. 7.

The feat made Corteza, is now ranked No. 4 in the world based on the latest rankings released by the World Pool Billiard Association (WPBA), second back-to-back local title after winning the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) 4^th National Pool Championships last month at the Star Billiards Center in Grace Village, Quezon City. It also earned him the top purse of P400,000 in the two-day event (January 14 and 15) which also backed up by Filipino ring hero and World Champion Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, also an avid billiards and chess enthusiast.

The native Davao City Corteza, also the 2009 World Ten Ball finalist, raced a 7-2 commanding lead and never looked back in the race-to-9, winner’s break format.

“I was lucky I was able to lead early, it’s tiring to make ground when you are too far behind”, said Corteza, who lost to Mika “The Iceman” Immonen of Finland in the finals of World Ten Ball Championships last month at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Alcano, playing under the banner of Perry Mariano’s Bugsy Promotions settled for the runner-up honor and the P150,000 cash prize that goes with it.

On the roads to the finals, Corteza brought downed Japan based Antonio “Nickoy” Lining, 8-6, while Alcano defeated another NBS bet Warren “Warrior” Kiamco, 8-1, prevented what could have been an all-Negros Billiard Stable finale.

Lining, the pride of Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro and Kiamco, who hails from Pasil, Cebu receive P50,00 each for making it to the final four.

He (Corteza) had earlier beaten former two-time WPA World Junior representative Rene Mar David, Elman Aries, Elmer Haya, and Panfilo Damuag.

Actually, Corteza had a chance to face Pacquiao in the second round but the latter’s (Pacquiao) bowed to Elman Aries in the Last 64.

Other renowned players who also seeing in action are former world no.1 Dennis Orcullo, 2007 World Pool finalist Roberto Gomez, Japan champion Ramil “Bebeng” Gallego, Southeast Asian Games gold medallist Gandy “Yang’Yang”Valle, Snooker specialist Benjie Guevarra, Elvis Calasang, John “Ramram” Rebong, and Godofredo “Boy” Ducanes among others.

Corteza, who just arrived the country last Wednesday from a brief stint in the Predator World Tour at the Lloret de Mar in Girona, Spain, last week.

He beat David Alcoberro of Spain, 8-7, in the Round of 32 to earn free airfare and lodging in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil slated on summer for the Last 16.

The venue of Predator World Tour in Spain was under an outdoor tent (no side panels) which partly collapsed due to heavy snow early morning second day of the competition according to BSCP secretary-general Carlos “Boying” Santos-Viola.

The organizing committee headed by Karim Belhaj (CEO of Predator) and the last 16 survivor players decided to finish the game in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at the next tour stop in the middle of the year.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO.