CORTEZA STREAK CONTINUES; BATA, MISTICA OUSTED IN US 10-BALL TOUR

REIGNING NATIONAL champion Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza continued his winning ways to keep the Philippine flag high, however compatriot hall of famer Efren “Bata” Reyes and veteran campaigner Ramon “Maestro Monching” Mistica bowed out yesterday in the ongoing 1st Annual Hard Times-Mezz Cues 10-Ball Open at the Hard Times Billiards in Bellflower, Los Angeles California, USA.

The Davao City native Corteza, top player of Jonathan Sy’s Negros Billiards Stable (NBS) smashed American Corey Harper, 9-1, to remain unbeaten in the true double elimination, winner’s break format.

“Talagang hindi ko binigyan ng pagkakataon si Corey (Harper) at buwenas din kasi laging pumapabor ang bola sa akin,” said Corteza to his long-time benefactor sportsman/ businessman Jonathan Sy, the president of the rising Negros Billiards Stable (NBS).

“I hope mahawakan ni Van-Van (Lee Vann Corteza) ang kanyang momentum,” said sportsman/ businessman Jonathan Sy, also co-founder of Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).

Corteza, who took a bye in the first round subdued Steve Chaplin, 9-0,

Ismael Paez,, 9-1, and Stevie Moore, 9-1, respectively.

Meanwhile, Reyes and Mistica suffered the biggest setbacks of the day and failed to advance in the next round in the loser’s brackets.

Reyes was ousted by compatriot Warren “Warrior” Kiamco, 9-6, a multiple Southeast Asian Games gold medalist from Pasil, Cebu while Mistica, who is best to remember by beating Filipino pool legend Jose “Amang” Parica in the mid 80’s suffered a 9-8 beating against Ed Mataya.

The 1999 WPA World 9-Ball Champion and 2005 WPA World 8-Ball Champion Reyes, the prize fighter of sportsman/ businessman Aristeo “Putch” Puyat also bye in the first round, then demolished Melinda Huang, 9-5, 2-time US Open Champion and 2009 Player of the Year Mika “The Iceman” Immonen of Finland, 9-1, before losing to American Rodney “Rocket” Morris, 9-6, in the winner’s side.

Reyes, from Angeles, Pampanga suffered his second loses to Kiamco, 9-6, in their do-or die match in the one-loss side.

Mistica, on the other hand scored back-to-back victories over Chris Tate, 9-2, and Abe Lim, 9-2, before losing to Harper, 9-8, in the winner’s side. Mistica, a resident of Murphy, Cubao, Quezon City came back by beating Ronnie Wiseman of the US, 9-8, Marcus Chamat of Sweden, 9-4, but yielded to Mataya, 9-8.

Kiamco, also from NBS, also bye in the first round then beat Marcos Rodriguez, 9-5, but lost to Dave Grau, 9-6, but keeping alive in the loser’s brackets by beating Al Garcia, James Burt and Reyes, respectively.

2007 World Pool Finalist Roberto “Pinoy Superman” Gomez, meanwhile succumbed to Morris, 9-1, forcing him relegated in the loser’s brackets.

Morris, tormentor of Reyes in the winner’s side, didn’t give any chances Gomez, playing under the banner of Perry Mariano’s Bugsy Promotions.

Other Filipino campaigners here were LA sports columnist Ambrosio “Jun” Almoite, George Pagulayan and Jaynard Orque.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO