LEE VANN CORTEZA IS NO.3 IN 2009 PLAYER MONEY LIST; TO VIE 2009 JAPAN OPEN

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA—AFTER winning the just concluded Derby City Classic 10-ball Challenge in Louisville, Kentucky, former National Open Champion Lee Vann Corteza try his luck this time in the 2009 Japan Open 9-ball on March 21 and 22 in Tokyo, Japan.

The native Davao City Corteza, one of the top players of Jonathan Sy’s Negros Billiard Stable also settled runner-up in the 9-ball competition of Derby City Classic which topped by American sensation Shane “The South Dakota Kid” Van Boening was held at the Horseshoe Casino & Hotel in Elizabeth, Indiana last January 21 to 31.

After the impressive performance in Derby City, Corteza, the 2006 All Japan Champion climbed at No.3 spot in the 2009 Player Money List with total $18,000 money earning according to the official website of AZbilliards.com.

John Brumback is at no.1 spot winning a total of $32,000 after dominating the Derby City Master of the Table and Derby City Banks division including a top ten finish, both in the One Pocket and 9-ball division.Van Boening, meanwhile is at No.2 spot with a total earning of $20,325.

In the prestigious Japan Open, other Filipinos competing are former World Champions Efren “Bata” Reyes and Alex “The Lion” Pagulayan, Japan Cup Champion Eduardo “Tisoy” Saracho, Edmund Mangulabnan, Warren Kiamco, Romy Vicente, Danilo dela Cruz and Antonio “Nickoy” Lining.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO