CORTEZA, ORCULLO LEADS PHILIPPINE CONTINGENT TO 2010 WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP NEXT MONTH IN DOHA

Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza displayed his championships’ trophy after winning the just concluded 2010 US Open 10-ball championship at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas Nevada, USA last Sunday.

The Davao City native Corteza, top player of Jonathan Sy’s Negros Billiards Stable defeated Chinese Hi Wen-lo , 13-12, in their rematch on the final to went home the top prize of $20,000.

Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza in his winning form.

LEE VANN “The Slayer” Corteza and Dennis “Robocop” Orcullo will lead a contingent of 9-Ball Pool players from the Philippines to the 2010 WPA (World Pool Billiards Association) World Pool 9-Ball Championships slated on June 28 to July 5 in Doha, Qatar.

“We are ready,” said the Davao City native Corteza, top player of Jonathan Sy’s Negros Billiards Stable who just arrived yesterday coming in a big wins in US pool circuit.

“I have a mission and that is to become a world champion (WPA),” added Orcullo, former fisherman from Bislig, Surigao del Sur, top player of Perry Mariano’s Bugsy Promotions.

Corteza defeated Chinese Hi Wen-lo, 13-12, in their rematch on the final to went home the top prize of $20,000 last Sunday in the just concluded 2010 US Open 10-ball championship at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas Nevada.

Orcullo, meanwhile defeated Japanese Toru Kuribayashi, 8-3, in the final to went home the top prize of $20,000 winning the just concluded 2010 Party Poker World Pool Masters (9-ball competition) at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas Nevada, USA last Monday.
“I fully believe in Dennis’ ability in hurdling the World Pool Championship. He is one of the greatest billiards players and what he only lacks is a World Pool crown to become a full world cue king,” said sportsman/businessman Ceferino “Perry” Mariano, co-founder of BMPAP and president of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions, who is pushing Quezon City is RP’s Wimbledon of Billiards.

Mariano commented about the winning run of Filipino cue masters in the US pool circuit: “Corteza and Orcullo’s victory did not just make us, Filipinos, proud. It also showed to the world, once again, how competitive the Filipinos are,”

Both, Corteza and Orcullo, member of the Billiards Managers and Players Association (BMPAP) headed by its’ chairman STAR editor-in-chief Isaac Belmonte, doesn’t have yet a world crown despite numerous international title in the past.

So far, the Philippines have four world champions—Efren “Bata” Reyes (1999 World 9-ball in Cardiff, Wales and 2005 World 8-ball in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates), Alex “The Lion”Pagulayan (2004 World 9-ball in Taiwan), Ronnie “Volcano” Alcano (2006 World 9-ball in Manila and 2007 World 8-ball in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates) and Rubilen “Bingkay” Amit (2009 Women’s World 10-ball in Manila).

The prize fund (World Pool) for this initial appearance and in 2011 in Qatar is $250,000 and will increase to $300,000 for both 2012 and 2013.

Aside from Corteza and Orcullo, other Filipino bets in the tournament proper (World Pool) are Alcano, Marlon “Marvelous” Manalo, Antonio “Nickoy” Lining and Antonio “Ga-Ga” Gabica.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO