Corteza cops title; Rañola tops ladies

MANILA, Philippines -- Lee Vann Corteza subdued Marlon Manalo, 13-11, late last night to rule the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) National Pool Championship at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
In the process, Corteza pocketed the top purse of P500,000 in the men’s division of the event presented by San Miguel Beer.
Iris Rañola, on the other hand, emerged the first ever winner of the ladies section and went home with P200,000.
The 27-year-old from Divisoria, Zamboanga prevailed over fellow national Mary-Ann Basas of Davao City, 9-7, to cap an unbeaten run. Top favorite Rubilen Amit earlier bested Jingle David, 7-5, in the battle for third place to pocket P50,000. David received P25,000.
Dennis Orcollo hacked out an 11-10 decision over Japan-based Antonio Lining to settle for third place in the men’s division.
Corteza, the reigning All-Japan champion, broke off from a 6-6 count to frustrate Manalo, semifinalist in the 2005 World Pool Championship, who settled for P250,000.

“Alay ko po sa aking ama (Emilio Rañola) ang tagumpay kong ito. Siya po ang inspirasyon ko sa paglalaro ng aking bilyar kasama na po ang buo kong pamilya (This is for my father. He is my inspiration along with my whole family),” said a teary-eyed Rañola.
The elder Rañola is fighting stage 4 throat cancer in Zamboanga.
Rañola, Basas and Amit actually used the tournament as warmup for their stint in the Amway world pool championship in Taiwan starting on April 5.
With Amit already qualified to the tournament proper after finishing in the top 24 last year, Rañola and Basas will leave for Taiwan today to join the qualifying round which begins tomorrow.
Amit together with national coach Edgar Asonto will join the two also on Monday.
Rañola, who had earlier beaten Basas in the quarterfinals, surged to a 4-2 lead and was on the verge of wrapping it up on the 13th rack when she missed an easy shot on No. 9.
Basas closed to within 7-8 but Rañola ended the suspense on the 16th rack.

by: Marlon Bernardino
(inquirer.net) -
04-01-07

ORCOLLO   FINISH THIRD AIMS TO BOUNCE  BACK AGAINST YANG
BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

DENNIS “ROBOCOP” ORCOLLO settled for a strong third place finish at the conclusion of the 2nd BSCP National Pool Championships yesterday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila.

Orcollo defeated Japan based Antonio “Nickoy” Lining (11-10) in the intense battle for third in the afternoon session before the much awaited finals of Lee Van Corteza and Marlon Manalo schedule last night at 7 pm. Presented by San Miguel Corporation, the race-to-13 finals, alternate break offers P500,000 to the champion.

“Hindi talaga para sa akin itong National Pool Championships, babawi na lamang ako sa match ko kay Yang Shing-chun pati sa Guinness Asian 9-ball tour.” the 28-years-old former fisherman from Bislig, Surigao del Sur said in a post mortem interview.

After his race-to-60 9-ball duel to Yang on April 12 at the Gateway Mall in Quezon City, Orcollo hoping to perform well in the inauguration of 2007 Guinness Asian 9-ball tour on April 20 in Jakarta, Indonesia if he give a chance to carry the country’s color.

Actually, it was Lining, who is fresh from a quarter-final finish in the Japan 9-Ball Open last month in Tokyo close for the win.

Tied at 10 all, Lining commit an empty break in the last racks. Orcollo decided to a safety shot in the yellow No.1 ball that push Lining into the limit and eventually the latter’s (Lining) commit a bad shot. Then the rest is history as Orcollo run out the game.

Orcollo and Lining, both undefeated player but bow out in contention yielding to their separate foes in the single format of cross-over semis the other day.

Orcollo missed No.6 ball allowing Corteza to clean up the table in the last racks. Corteza scored a nerve-wracking 11-10 victory while Manalo overpowered Lining (11-5).

Meanwhile, BSCP president Ernie Fajardo said yesterday, aside from the whopping P500,000 champion’s purse, the winner in this year’s National Open is possible to get a slot in Guinness Asian 9-ball tour.

He also pointed out that the National Open is one of criteria to select member of national team bound for Thailand’s Southeast Asian Games this December.

Organizing committee Yen Makabenta, president of Raya Sports and chair of BSCP earlier said that the “last 6” player here in National Open assured ticket to this November Manila World Pool Championships.

The Last 6 were Corteza, Manalo, Lining, Orcollo, 2006 BSCP Open champion Alex Pagulayan and Ramil Gallego. Corteza already earn slot in the WPC as well Pagulayan. Corteza, top player of Negros Billiard Stable is the 2006 All Japan Championships winner while Pagulayan is the 2004 WPC champion.

by: Marlon Bernardino -
03-31-07