TAIWANESE
CHANG JUN LIN WINS
INAUGURAL GUINNESS
9-BALL TOUR
BY: MARLON BERNARDINO
Final pay-outs:
Champ: Chang Jun Lin
(Chinese-Taipei) $15,000
2nd: Lee Vann Corteza
(Philippines) $6,000
Losing semi-finalist:
Dennis Orcollo (Philippines)
and Wu Chia-ching
(Chinese-Taipei) $3,500
each
TAIWANESE Chang Jun
Lin went home richer
US$15,000 last night
after beating Filipino
Lee Vann Corteza,
11-5, the four-time
Southeast Asian Games
gold medalist in the
finals of the inaugural
2007 Guinness 9Ball
Tour at the Sultan
Hotel in Jakarta,
Indonesia.
Chang, unknown in
the world of pool
proved to be more
aggressive during
his final match with
Corteza, witnessed
by an appreciative
crowd that packed
that formerly known
as Sunda Kelapa, Jayakarta
and Batavia is the
capital and largest
city of Indonesia
and it’s located
on the northwest coast
of the island of Java.
Chang surge a 5-1
commanding lead after
Corteza’s scratch
in the first rack
plus three empty breaks.
Corteza, top player
of Negros Billiard
Stable (NBS) manage
to run out the 7th
racks to cut the lead
at 5-2, however the
more determine Chang
also answered a run
out in the 8th racks
for a comfortable
6-2 lead.
Another dry break
of Corteza in the
9th racks as the Taiwanese
counterpart decided
to push but Corteza
sank the yellow 1
ball via long shot
then run out via 6-9
combo to close the
match at 6-3.
Chang two balls in
the break but committed
his first major mistake
after failing to sank
an easy shot at No.1
ball allowing Corteza
to slice the count
at 6-4.
CRITICAL IN
THE 11TH RACKS
In the 11th racks,
Corteza sank 3 ball
in the break and inch
closer for a victory
and closet the match
at 6-5 count with
three ball remaining,
however the referee
decided Corteza to
slap a foul after
the latter’s
(Corteza) shirt contact
(dumikit) in 8 ball
that leads Chang a
7-4 lead.
Chang reach the finals
by edging Indon Jimmy
Jusman, 9-8, in the
quarters last Saturday
and countryman Wu
Chia-ching, 11-9,
the 2005 World Pool
Champion, in the semis,
yesterday afternoon
session.
CORTEZA REACHING THE
FINALS…
Corteza edges double
world champion Ronato
“Volcano”
Alcano, 9-8, in the
quarters and
compatriot Dennis
“Robocop”
Orcollo, 13-11, the
2006 World Pool Leaque
ruler, to advance
to the finals.
The 28-years-old Orcollo,
playing Bugsy promotions
actually opened up
the mouth watering
semifinals matchup
strong as he was able
to race to a commanding
4-0 lead against Corteza.
Utilizing his textbook
form and approach
of the table, Orcollo
looked to be on track
to gaining his first
ever finals appearance
in the annual nation
hopping event.
In the fifth rack
however, things turned
sour for the Quezon
City based Orcollo
as his opponent started
to get the hang of
the table. Corteza,
the Negros Billiards
Stable (NBS) ace,
managed to pull off
a break and runout
in the fifth rack
which shifted the
momentum and paved
the way to a devastating
nine rack run to demoralize
the once-confident
Orcollo and have the
score immensely to
his favour, 9-4.
At this stage of competition,
everybody thought
that it was Orcollo
should start packing
his bags as there
was no way he could
possibly come back
from that huge deficit.
But as a player recognized
of thriving under
immense pressure,
Orcollo courageously
battled back and displayed
his own version of
billiards magic to
string an immaculate
five rack run to get
back in contention
at ten racks a-piece
in the race to eleven
format.
Actually, the two
players turned out
to be so evenly matched
that they had to utilize
the two rack advantage
needed to win if play
went up to hill-hill.
In fact, the rule
was so rarely used
that when Orcollo
pocketed the striped
nine ball to have
his score go up to
eleven racks, he thought
he already won and
he went to Corteza’s
corner to receive
his congratulations.
That was not the case
to be as the referee
immediately informed
him of the situation
and directed the confused
Filipino back to his
seat.
Play soon resumed
after that brief misunderstanding
and the contestants
wiped away their smiles
and resumed to display
their game-faces.
Even if none of their
breaks were going
for them – a
strange occurrence
since both Corteza
and Orcollo are known
for their consistent
power-breaking, the
calibre and quality
of the two players
were apparent as both
found ways to take
advantage of the slightest
opportunities and
miscues to bring the
score to a nerve racking
eleven all.
In the end, luck ran
out for Orcollo as
he scratched on a
crucial 1-7 combo
to practically gift
wrap the match to
his Filipino rival.
Orcollo then sealed
his fate when he suffered
another dry break
allowing Corteza to
cleanup the table
on his way to victory
and a finals ticket,
13-11.
“We really had
trouble with the racking
in the TV table. There
were spaces in between
the balls during racking.
That was the reason
why there were a lot
of dry breaks in our
match. But I have
to give it to “Van
Van”, he was
able to perform better
when it mattered which
gave him his well
deserved win.”
Orcollo said in Filipino.
Corteza, playing under
the banner of sportsman/
businessman Jonathan
“Bacolod”
Sy on the other hand
said: “It was
just all luck and
I hope that this luck
will still follow
me in my finals match
later in the afternoon.”
Corteza, the pride
of Davao City is set
to challenge the winner
of the all Taiwanese
semifinals between
Wu Chia-Ching and
Chang Jun Lin who
were still taking
on each other as of
press time.
Three weeks ago, Orcollo
close to win but failed
to sank an easy shot
in No.6 ball allowing
Corteza to clean up
the table in their
semi-final clash of
the 2nd BSCP National
Pool Open.
Formerly the Asian
9-Ball Tour, the Guinness
9-Ball Tour has been
made bigger and better
for players and fans
alike with the new
partnership between
ESPN STAR Sports and
Guinness. Total prize
money has doubled
to US$320,000 (from
US$160,000 from last
year’s tour)
and the Tour will
feature a grand final
in Bali for the Top
10 players. Winners
of each leg will win
US$15,000 while the
Grand Final Champion
will walk away with
US$36,000.
The Guinness 9-Ball
Tour remains the only
ranking tour in Asia
for players to qualify
for the WPA World
Pool Championship.
The top ten finishers
in the Guinness 9-Ball
Tour Order of Merit
will automatically
qualify for pool’s
most prestigious event,
this year’s
edition slated for
a second straight
staging for Manila
in November.
by:
Marlon Bernardino
-
04-22-07
LONE
PHILIPPINES ENTRY
Rubilen
“Bingkay”
Amit won her last
round matches to
advance to the last
24 of 2007 Amway
WPA Women’s
World 9-Ball Championship,
where she was notch
4-1 win-loss card
in the group stage
Friday night being
held at the Taipei
Gymnasium in Taiwan.
A double-gold medallist
in the 23rd Southeast
Asian Games in Manila,
Amit defeated
Shu Pin Kao and
Qualifier 5 Chan
Ya-Ting, both from
Chinese-Taipei in
a similar 5-4 victory
and then past Janine
Schwan of Germany,
5-2 late Thursday
then yielded to
Makiko Takagi of
Japan, 5-3 in the
afternoon session
last Friday then
bounce back to secure
ticket in the last
24 after she eliminate
former world champion
Allison Fisher of
Great Britain, 5-3,
in her last matches
in the evening session
last Friday.
The eight (8) group
stage is compose
of six players using
a round robin, race-to-5,
alternate break
format.
The last 24 is single
elimination, race-to-7,
the semi-finals
is race-to-9 while
the finals is race-to-11,
all using winner's
break format.
Taiwanese
Chan Ya-Ting makes
it in the main draw
by besting Miyuke
Fuke of Japan, 7-5,
in the qualifying
round. Fellow national
team member Iris Rañola
and Mary-Ann Basas,
the top two finishers
in the inauguration
of BSCP National Women's
championships two
week ago, are both
failed to progress
losing their respective
qualifying round assignment.
According to delegation
head and national
women’s coach
Boyet Asonto, if Amit
swept his group stage
assignment she already
automatic to advance
in the last 16. Asonto
added, Fisher, one
of the favorite players
here already ousted
in this event after
tallying 2-3 win-loss
card.
The 36-years-old Fisher
with a nickname “The
Duchess of Doom”
was born in Cheshnut,
England is a former
World Champion, National
champion, ESPN Ultimate
challenge, Tournament
of Champions, Amway
Cup and US Open and
winner of over 50
US titles.
Sponsored by Puyat
Sports of billiards
“godfather”
Aristeo “Putch”
Puyat, Amit, in entering
the history books,
Amit ruled the 8-ball
pool singles and 9-ball
pool singles in the
sports fest that made
her star shine brighter
in local billiards.
“Mataas ang
morale ko kasi todo
suporta sa akin si
Sir Putch [My morale
is high because of
the full support given
to me by Mr. Puyat],”
said Amit before her
departure in Manila,
referring to the solid
support of local billiards
godfather Aristeo
“Putch”
Puyat.
Amit had previously
won the 2002 Asian
8-Ball Championship
in Singapore and before
her big SEA Games
romp, she made history
in the country by
becoming the first
woman to qualify in
the men’s National
Open finals after
posting an unbeaten
run in the fourth
leg of the qualifying
round.
Raised in Mandaue
but reside in Taguig,
the ex-Makati call
center employee who
gave up her work to
concentrate her professional
billiard career finished
last 24 in the last
year’s edition
which topped by Ga
Young-Kim of Korea.
The 27-year-old Ga,
known as the “Seoul
Sensation” and
“Little Devil
Girl,” is also
the reigning Enerva
9-ball tour winner,
a former US Ladies
Open and APA Ladies
Open titlist, making
her the heavy favorite
in the Taipei event.
The winner of the
event brings home
$20,000, with the
runner-up getting
$10,000. The losing
semifinalists receive
$5,000 each.
by:
Marlon Bernardino
-
04-07-07
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
LEE
VAN CORTEZA EYEING WORLD
POOL TITLE
BY: MARLON BERNARDINO
FOR
LEE VAN CORTEZA, winning
the National Pool
Championships gave
confidence to him
to eyeing more ambitious---the
World Pool Championship
crown.
The
28-years-old top player
of Negros Billiard
Stable (NBS) has won
four Gold Medals and
one Silver Medal at
the Southeast Asian
Games, and was the
winner of the 2004
Asian 9-ball Tour
tournament in the
Manila as well, beating
fellow countryman
Francisco “Django”
Bustamante 13-11 in
the final.
He
is nicknamed "Van
Van" of “The
Slayer“, and
started playing pool
in 1993. He also won
the 39th All Japan
Championships last
December to already
secured slot in World
Pool Championships
in Malate on November.
“
Lahat naman ng bilyarista
sa buong mundo ay
pangarap na manalo
at magkampeon sa World
Pool. Doon natin na
masasabing complete
tayo pag nag world
champion tayo.”
said the Davao cue
master Corteza who
beat Marlon “Marvelous”
Manalo, 13-11, in
the finals to topped
the 2nd BSCP National
Pool Championships
recently held at the
Ninoy Aquino Stadium
in Malate, Manila.
Interestingly,
no one Filipino player
coming from the South
is the world pool
champion.
“
‘Yun naman ang
main objective ng
NBS (Negros Billiard
Stable) na may mag
world champion galing
sa South (Visayas
and Mindanao), kaya
full support kami
ni Sir Jonathan (Sy)
sa kampanya ni Van-Van.”
said Christopher Palses,
head coach and team
manager of Negros
Billiard Stable.
“
Lagi naman tayo sa
tabi ni Lee Van (Corteza).”
added sportsman/ businessman
Jonathan Sy, benefecator
of Corteza, as well
Rodolfo “Boy
Samson” Luat,
fire cracker victim
Jarry “Putol”
Pelayo, Panfilo “Lintok
Abu” Damuag,
Reynaldo “Karambola
king” Grandea,
Jech-Jech “
giant killer”
Lemen, Ricky “Bai”
Zerna and Godofredo
“Boy Cotabato”
Ducanes among others.
Efren
“Bata”
Reyes from Angeles
City, Pampanga, acknowledged
“The Magician”
in the pool world
won the World 9-ball
Pool Championships
in 1999 at Cardiff,
Wales in England.
Alex
“The Lion”
Pagulayan, a native
of Cabagan, Isabela
won the world 9-ball
crown in 2004 at Taipei
in Taiwan while Ronato
“Volcano”
Alcano from Calamba,
Laguna bested German
ace Ralf “Kaiser”
Souquet to rules the
2006 World 9-ball
crown in Manila.
Bustamante,
the pride of Tarlac
City finished runner-up
in the 2002 edition
in Cardiff yielding
to American Earl “The
Pearl” Strickland
while Pagulayan also
finished runner-up
in the 2003 edition
in Cardiff losing
to eventual champion
Thorsten “The
Hitman’ Hohmann
of Germany.
Corteza,
is the top pick player
of the Billiard and
Snooker Congress of
the Philippines (BSCP)
to carry the Philippine
Flag in the inauguration
of 2007 Guinness 9-ball
tour slated in April
20 to 21 in Jakarta,
Indonesia.
Corteza whose stint
is supported by sportsman/
businessman Jonathan
“Bacolod”
Sy has also been invited
to pay in the Predator
Championships next
month in Florida and
the prestigious International
Challenge of Champion
P50,000 winner-take
all matches at the
Mohegan Sun Casino
in Uncasville, Connecticut
in July.
Aside
from Corteza, other
Filipino cue artists
competing in Guinness
9-ball tour, which
offers a top purse
US$15,000 winners
of each leg while
the Grand Final Champion
will walk away with
US$36,000 are double
world champion Ronato
“Volcano”
Alcano, 2006 World
Pool Leaque ruler
Dennis “Robocop”
Orcollo and 2006 Doha
Asian games 9-ball
silver medallist Jeffrey
“The Bull”
De Luna.
“We
are confident that
our players will continue
their domination in
the inauguration of
Guinness 9-ball tour,”
said Billiards and
Snooker Congress of
the Philippines (BSCP)
president Ernesto
“Ernie”
Fajardo in a recent
interview.
“Our
triumph in the past
month provided a good
start for our campaign
this year, and the
BSCP sees’ no
reason of it stopping.
Instead we are looking
forward for another
banner year,”
he added. Fajardo
also revealed that
Manalo and Antonio
“Nickoy”
Lining is next choice
of the billiard federation
and assured slot in
the second leg of
2007 Guinness 9-ball
tour in Kaohsiung
in May.
Other
legs are Kuala Lumpur
in June, Singapore
in July, Shanghai
in August and culminates
in Bali in September.
With
six stops, this is
the biggest Tour since
its inception in 2003.
Formerly the Asian
9-Ball Tour, the Guinness
9-Ball Tour has been
made bigger and better
for players and fans
alike with the new
partnership between
ESPN STAR Sports and
Guinness. Total prize
money has doubled
to US$320,000 (from
US$160,000 for last
year’s Tour)
and the Tour will
feature a Grand Final
in Bali for the Top
10 players.
The
six-city Guinness
9-Ball Tour begins
in Jakarta on April
20, 2007, and will
attract Asia’s
top cuemasters competing
for the region's biggest
purses. Asian Professional
Billiards Union-sanctioned
players from Malaysia,
Indonesia, Singapore,
Vietnam, Korea, Japan,
Thailand, India, China
and Taiwan all countries
with strong following
of the sport will
be taking part.
The Guinness 9-Ball
Tour remains the only
ranking tour in Asia
for players to qualify
for the WPA World
Pool Championship.
The top ten finishers
in the Guinness 9-Ball
Tour Order of Merit
will automatically
qualify for pool's
most prestigious event,
this year's edition
slated for Manila
in November.
The
Philippine had a four
slot's two from the
endorsement of organizing
group ESPN Star Sports
and Guinness and the
other two coming from
the Billiards and
Snooker Congress of
the Philippines (BSCP).
by: Marlon Bernardino
-
04-10-07
BUSTAMANTE
BEATS ARCHHER TWICE
TO WINS US PRO TOUR
CHAMPIONSHIP
|
FORMER
WORLD NO.1 Francisco
"Django"
Bustamante won
his first major
tournament this
year after topping
the tough field
of UPA US Pro
Tour Championships
yesterday (Sunday
in West Coast
Time) at the
Normandie Casino
in Los Angeles,
California.
The 43-years-old
top player of
Puyat Sports
defeated twice
five-time world
champion Johnny
"The Scorpion"
Archer to pocket
the top prize
$10,000.
Last January,
Bustamante settled
for third place
finish in the
three events
(Master of the
Table Bonus,
9-ball and One
Pocket) of the
annual prestigious
Derby City Classic
at the Louisville
in Kentucky---the
hometown of
former world
boxing champion
Muhammad Ali.
Last year, Bustamante
teaming up with
his bosom buddy
Efren "Bata"
Reyes to bring
home the championship
trophy in the
inauguration
of 2006 World
Cup of Pool
in South Wales,
England. Bustamante
also defeated
Leonardo "Dodong"
Didal in the
finals of 2006
Solar Sports
Philippine 9-ball
Open last December
in Casino Filipino,
Paranaque City.
This time in
UPA Pro Tour
Championships,
the pride of
Tarlac City
Bustamante showed
his vast experience
to become the
only undefeated
player.
He beat James
Burt (11-1),
Mike Davis (11-4),
Tony Crosby
(11-5), Fabio
Petroni (11
-4), Archer
(11-4) and 2001
Cardiff World
Pool Champion
Mika "The
Iceman"
Immonen of Finland
(11-4) in the
hot-seat match.
Then Archer
needed to disposed
Raj Hundal (11-9),
Robb Saez (7-2)
and Immonen
(7-4) to force
a rematch with
Bustamante.
Archer is currently
leading in the
2007 Player
Money List accumulating
$41,785 (not
included this
event).
Finals (sub
title)
According to
yesterday's
report of Azbilliards.com,
the Waygross,
Georgia native
Archer took
early control
of the final
match and led
6-3 in the alternating
break, race-to-7
format match.
However, Bustamante
claimed the
last four racks
for the 7-6
win.
Archer settled
for runner-up
prize to receive
worth $5,000
while Immonen
will bring home
the third prize
worth $3,000.
Other Filipino
player participated
in this event
were pool maestro
Efren "Bata"
Reyes and US
based Filipino
Santos "The
Saint"
Sambajon.
by:
Marlon Bernardino
-
04-02-07
|
Alcano
barred from coming within
1,000 meters of daughter
MANILA,
Philippines -- World
pool champion Ronato
Alcano has been prohibited
from coming within 1,000
meters of his 14-year-old
daughter, who accused
him of molesting her
in his home thrice last
year.
In
a temporary protection
order issued by Judge
Lourdes Giron of the
Quezon City Regional
Trial Court Branch 102
last March 27, Alcano
was also barred from
contacting the girl
in any way.
"My
client received a copy
of the temporary protection
order only last April
4, which was before
the long weekend,"
Alcano's lawyer Vic
Rodriguez said in an
interview on Wednesday
after a court hearing
on the girl's application
for a permanent protection
order.
Rodriguez
said that aside from
awarding custody of
the girl to her mother,
Alcano's estranged wife,
the court also ordered
the respondent to undergo
psychological counseling.
The
lawyer added that Alcano
was asked to submit
three prospective names
of doctors who could
provide the billiards
champion with counseling
services."We have
no opposition to this.
We will submit our list
of recommended doctors
if only to show my client's
good faith," Rodriguez
said.
Rodriguez
said Alcano likewise
took a drug test, which
yielded negative results.
Grace
Quiddaoen, lawyer of
the young complainant,
said the 14-year-old
filed an ex-parte motion
for the issuance of
a temporary protection
order because"she
was afraid that the
molestations could happen
again."
Quiddaoen
accompanied Alcano's
daughter and his estranged
wife, who were both
wearing long skirts
with dark sunglasses
and shawls covering
their faces, to court
during the hearing.Rodriguez,
Alcano’s lawyer,
said they had been given
five days to file their
opposition to the girl's
application for a permanent
protection order.The
lawyer said Alcano,
who filed perjury charges
against the teenager
and hermother on Tuesday,
was contemplating about
moving for the dismissal
of the criminal case
against him.
By Margaux Ortiz
read
more> Inquirer
Last updated 04:39pm
(Mla time) 04/11/2007
BATA
REYES BOUNCED BACK IN
US PRO TOUR 9-BALL
POOL
MAESTRO Efren “Bata”
Reyes clustered two
consecutive wins to
remain in contention
in the ongoing US Pro
Tour Championships being
held yesterday at the
Normandie Casino in
Los Angeles, California
USA.
The 52-years-old Reyes,
playing under the banner
of Puyat Sports beat
Japanese Tomoki Mikari
(11-5), last Friday
afternoon (late Thursday
in West Coast Time)
then followed a narrowly
victory over Vietnamese
Tang Hoa (11-10) yesterday
afternoon (late Friday
in West Coast Time).
Reyes, the 1999 World
Pool Cardiff 9-ball
Champion also the 2004
inaugural World Fujairah
8-Ball Ruler smashed
another Japanese ace
Neal Fujiawara (11-1)
before yielding to Canadian
Ronnie Wiseman (11-10)
for his first lost the
other day.
Reyes will face American
Tony Crosby in the next
round who has relegated
in the loser’s
brackets yielding to
former world no.1 Francisco
“Django”
Bustamante (11-5).
Bustamante also playing
under the auspices of
Puyat Sports takes on
former world trick shot
champion Fabio Petroni
of Italy in the winner’s
brackets, an 11-6 winner
over Shawn Putnam. Bustamante
earlier disposed James
Burt (11-1) and Mike
Davis (11-4) respectively.
If Reyes luckily beat
Crosby, he will face
in the future round
the winner of the match
between Rodney Morris-Shawn
Putnam tussle where
Morris is most favored
likely to win.
Actually Morris bested
reigning US Open champion
John Schmidt (11-6)
to keep his alive here.
It shall be recalled
that Reyes beat Morris
twice in their head
to head matches last
year. Reyes won the
riches purse in the
planet whopping $500,000
prize by demolishing
Morris in the finals
of World 8-Ball IPT
event last July in Reno,
Nevada.
Reyes team up with his
bosom buddy Bustamante
defeated the paired
of Morris and ex-world
9-ball champ Earl "The
Pearl" Strickland
of the United States
to captured the title
plus $60,000 in the
inaugural of 2006 World
Cup of Pool in South
Wales in England last
September.
Reyes whose stint here
is fully backed up by
Aristeo “Putch”
Puyat, acknowledge God
Father of Philippine
Billiards is aiming
here to snatch the over-all
leadership for this
month 2007 Player Money
List against currently
leader five-time world
champion Johnny “The
Scorpion” Archer
of the United States.
Reyes who had an $39,350
money earning that include
his 9th place finish
in the 2007 World 8-ball
in Fujairah, United
Arab Emirates recently
to bring home the $2,000
purse. Countryman Ronato
“Volcano”
Alcano was declared
winner to receive the
grand prize $25,000.
Archer edges Reyes,
last month top money
list player after accumulating
$41,785. Archer is fresh
from a runner-up finish
with eventual winner
Vietnamese Paul Song
to receive runner-up
prize $860 in the just
concluded SE Open 9-Ball
Tour Stop last March
24-25 at the Mr. Cues
2 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Archer also had an strong
fifth place finish in
the Gabriels Open Professional
Players Championship
last March 15 to 18
was held at the Valley
Forge Convention Center
in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
which topped by Corey
Deuel. Archer receive
5th prize $3,000 while
Deuel pocketed the top
prize $ 12,000.
In the UPA Pro Tour,
Archer post his third
straight wins in as
many rounds by crushing
Korean hopeful Shin
Park (11-10) yesterday
to face compatriot Robb
Saez in the fourth round
of winner’s brackets,
an 11-6 winner over
Mexican Ernesto Dominguez.
US based Filipino Santos
Sambajon suffered two
consecutive loses to
Archer (11-8) and Max
Eberle (11-3) in the
loser’s side to
bow out in the $10,000
top prize 9-ball tournament.
The pride of Macalelon,
Quezon Sambajon trounced
Dan Burdick (11-2) in
the first round.
In other marquee matches
yesterday in the winner’s
side, Deuel outclassed
fellow former US Open
winner Gabe Owen (11-3)
to arrange showdown
with Charlie Bryant
who upset ex-world titlist
Thorsten Hohmann of
Germany (11-5).
Still playing as of
press time Tyler Edey
vs Raj Hundal and Ronnie
Wiseman vs Mika Immonen.
by:
Marlon Bernardino -
03-31-07
RALLY BEHIND OUR DOUBLE
WORLD CHAMPION
 |
RONATO
“Ronnie Calamba”
Alcano take a souvenir
photo along with some
of supporter yesterday
at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium
in Manila.
Alcano beat Benjie Guevarra
Jr., 9-8, to stay in contention
DOUBLE
WORLD CHAMPION ALCANO KEEP
ON FIGHTING
RONATO “VOLCANO”
ALCANO, the reigning 9-ball
and 8-ball world champion
keep on fighting in the
loser’s brackets
after edging former snooker
specialist turned pro
billiard Benjie Guevarra
Jr., 9-8, in the ongoing
2nd BSCP National Pool
Championships Wednesday
at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium
in Malate, Manila.
Inspired
by the large support wearing
t-shirt and holding banner
“We Support Alcano”,
the 34-years-old lanky
cue artists clean up the
table after a miscue of
Guevarra in the 5-9 combo
in the 17th racks.
“Kala
ko matatalo na ako buti
na lamang nag mintis si
Benjie (Guevarra) sa 5-9
combo, ‘yung last
racks kasi ang deciding
kung sino ang mananalo.”
Said Alcano who surge
a 7-4 lead before Guevarra
manage to close the match
at 7-6 winning two consecutive
racks.
“Nagpapasalamat
ako sa mga taong pumunta
dito para suportahan ako.”
Alcano said who earlier
beat Japan based Roel
Esquillo (9-6) but loss
the other day to Fidel
Punzalan (9-5).
Alcano
admitted to this writer
until right now he is
affected regarding the
filed charges of her 14-years-old
daughter.
“
S’yempre hindi mawawala
‘yun apektado tayo.
Pero malaking factor may
mga taong nagtitiwala
sa akin na hindi ko magagawa
‘yung parating na
yun eh.” He referring
to fellow pool players
and other Filipino supporter.
Actually,
Guevarra made his second
golden break in the 16th
racks to level the game
at 8 all. His first golden
break in the 10th racks
to sliced the match at
6-4 in favor of Alcano.
It
was an intense battle
of the two pool wizards
in the 17th frame in this
race-to-9, alternate breaks
format which offers top
prize P500,000 to the
champion.
After
Guevarra level the match
at 8-all, Alcano use soft
break in the 17th racks
and he connect successfully
the blue No.2 ball and
green No.6 ball.
He
missed the yellow No.1
ball allowing Guevarra
for a win. The latter’s
decided an safety shot
for the No.1 ball as Alcano
also answered a safety
shot. Then Guevarra won
the No.1 ball and No.3
ball before he commit
mistake in a 5-9 combination.
“‘Yung
pag mintis ko sa 5-9 combo
‘yung ang krusyal.”
Guevarra said, who loss
to fellow snooker player
Elvis Calasang (9-4) in
the opening round then
beat Roel dela Cruz (9-5)
in the second round.
Meanwhile,
Ramil “Bebeng”
Gallego and Antonio “Nickoy”
Lining, both Japan based
hurdled their respective
rivals to remains unscathed.
Gallego,
another top player of
Negros Billiard Stable
toppled Bugsy hopeful
2006 Doha Asian games
9-ball gold medalist Antonio
“Ga’Ga”
Gabica, 9-7, while Lining,
from Pinamalayan, Oriental
Mindoro downed Edgar “Malabon”
Acaba, 9-5.
Acaba,
the founding president
of billiard federation
shock Asiad 9-ball silver
medalist Jeffrey “The
Bull” De Luna, 9-6,
late Tuesday in TV table
matches.
Aside
from Alcano, other players
who survive in the loser’s
brackets are Calasang,
Russian Petiza, Rodrigo
Geronimo, Emilio Martinez,
Ericson Navarette, Dondon
Razalan, James Al Ortega,
Victor Arpilleda, Roberto
Gomez, Jundel Mazon, Jun
Caro and Daniel dela Rosa.
Calasang
outplayed Esquillo, 9-3,
Petiza beat Elmer Kalaquian,
Geronimo booted Warren
Kiamco, 9-2, Martinez
prevailed over youngest
qualifier 14-years-old
Johan “Bubwit”
Chua, 9-7, Navarette outclassed
Roberto Dy, 9-7, Razalan
defeated Jec Jec Lemen,
9-2, Ortega crushed Jarry
Pelayo, 9-5, Arpilleda
beat Alex NObleza, 9-5,
Gomez waylaid last year’s
runner-up Gandy Valle,
9-6, Mazon nipped Mike
Takayama, 9-7, Caro surprised
Ricky Zerna, 9-3, and
Dela Rosa stopped John
Rebong, 9-5.
Still
playing as of press time,
the matches between Lee
Van Corteza vs Carlo Biado,
Leonardo Andam vs defending
champion Alex Pagulayan,
Godofredo Ducanes vs Marlon
Manalo, Dennis Orcollo
vs Joven Bustamante, Fidel
Punzalan vs Jomar de Ocampo,
Rodolfo Luat vs Jharome
Peña.
subtitle
AMIT
REACH SEMIS
RUBILEN
“BINGKAY”
AMIT, the 2005 Manila
Southeast Asian games
double gold winner post
his third straight victory
to be the first women
player to reach the semi-final
round.
It
was a super performance
for the 25-years-old Mandaue
cue wizards after blanking
Jingle David (7-0) in
this race-to-7, alternate
break formats in the event
presented by San Miguel
Corporation with the champion
gets the lion share worth
P200,000.
“
Nagbunga po ‘yung
pagsasanay na ginagawa
namin nina coach Ramon
(Ancaja) at coach Boyet
(Asonto),” said
Amit, who beat earlier
Maria Mildred Almero (9-5)
and Minse Grace Mercurio
(7-0).
by:
Marlon Bernardino -
03-28-07
Statement
on Ronnie Alcano Case
By Yen Makabenta
Chairman of Billiards &
Snooker Congress
of the Philippines
Without prejudging the complaint
against our double world
pool champion Ronnie Alcano,
I believe he and his image
are being roasted live and
unfairly in the coals of
publicity and sensationalism.
Nothing has been presented
in this case that deserves
the kind of publicity it
is getting or should lead
us to doubt Ronnie’s
integrity and good name.
All that has happened is
that his daughter and estranged
wife have filed a complaint
of sexual abuse against
him before the Quezon City
prosecutor’s office.
There has been no preliminary
investigation of the charge.
And there is no one way
of knowing at this point
whether the complaint has
any basis or is just a case
of harassment.
On the other hand, based
on our inquiry into the
case, we have learned some
not-so-pleasant facts about
what may be behind the complaint.
There were attempts to get
money from Ronnie and his
manager, Mr. and Mrs. Perry
Mariano that were unsuccessful.
And there is the rather
mind-boggling fact that
the alleged incidents allegedly
happened over three months
ago, soon after he shot
to fame and fortune after
winning the World Pool Championship.
Ronnie Alcano is not just
another citizen of our country.
He is an authentic sports
hero and celebrity. He has
won great honor for our
country and our people,
not only once but twice.
It is an unfortunate fact
that celebrities oftentimes
become the target of all
kinds of suits and complaints,
be it for money or publicity
or out of envy.
In the midst of his present
ordeal, we in the billiards
community will not turn
our back on Ronnie Alcano.
We express our full support
and confidence in him. And
we believe everyone should
rally behind this authentic
Filipino hero who made us
all proud to be Filipinos.
CLICK
HERE FOR THE LATEST UPDATES
IN 2OO7 BSCP OPEN >
ALL
EYES ON AMIT
BY: MARLON BERNARDINO
RUBILEN “BINGKAY”
AMIT, the 2005 Manila Southeast
Asian Games will carrying
the Philippine flag when
the 2007 Amway Women’s
World Championships gets
underway today, April 5
in Taiwan.
The 25-years-old Mandaue
pride will showcase her
talents against world’s
best bannered by defending
champion Ga Young of Korea.
Amit, who already secured
slot in the main draw after
finishing in the last 24
in the last year’s
edition will carry the big
load after her team mates
didn’t make it the
main draw.
1st BSCP National women’s
champion Iris Rañola
yielded to Zeet Huey Chai
of Singapore, 7-4, in the
finals of qualifying round
the other day. Mary-Ann
Basas, the runner-up in
the BSCP event also failed
to progress.
The triumvirate (Amit, Ranola
and Basas) along with head
coach Boyet Asonto Taiwan’s
campaign is backed up by
sportsman/ businessman Aristeo
“Putch” Puyat.
Lady cue artists advance
in the main draw today were
Japanese Kyoko Sone , Tan
Hsiang-Ling, Chan YA-Ting,
Su Yi-Yun and Lai Hui-Shan
of Chinese-Taipei).
Meanwhile, aside from Kim
and Amit, other notable
winners in the main draw
that includes Alisson Fisher
of Great Britain, Akimi
Kajitani of Japan, Xiao
Tin Pan of China, Monica
Webb of USA, Jasmin Ouchan
of Austria, Helena Thornfeldt
of Sweden, Charlotte Sorensen
of Denmark, Eyllul Kibaroglu
of Turkey and Daniele Benz
of Germany among others.
(MARLON BERNARDINO)
MANALO,
LINING NEXT CHOICE OF BSCP
BY: MARLON BERNARDINO
BILLIARDS and Snooker Congress
of the Philippines (BSCP)
president Ernesto “Ernie”
Fajardo said that Marlon
“Marvelous”
Manalo and Antonio “Nickoy”
Lining is next choice of
the billiard federation
and assured slot in the
second leg of 2007 Guinness
Asian 9-ball tour in Kaohsiung
in May.
“ Layunin ng BSCP
na mabigyan ng pagkakataon
ang lahat ng bilyarista
sa bansa na makapaglaro
sa Asian 9-ball tour. S’yempre
priority natin yun may magandang
performance sa nakalipas
at ‘yung may ibubuga.”
said Fajardo.
Manalo, who twice third
in the Euro Tour early this
year finished runner-up
in the 2nd BSCP National
Pool Championships over
the weekend at the Ninoy
Aquino Stadium in Malate,
Manila. Lining, on the other
hand finish fourth and also
the 2006 Japan 9-Ball Open
winner.
BSCP National champion Lee
Van “The Slayer”
Corteza, Dennis “Robocop”
Orcollo, third placer in
the National Open and 2006
World Pool Leaque ruler
are first choice of BSCP
and sending them in the
inauguration of Guinness
on April 20-21 in Jakarta,
Indonesia.
Double world champion Ronato
“Volcano” Alcano
and 2006 Doha Asian games
9-ball silver medalist Jeffrey
“The Bull” De
Luna are organizing group
choice.
Other legs are Kuala Lumpur
in June, Singapore in July,
Shanghai in August and culminates
in Bali in September.
by:
Marlon Bernardino -
04-05-07
 |
 |
 |
awarding
photos of BSCP courtesy of
Marlon Bernardino
Negros
Billiard Stable (NBS) head
coach and manager Christopher
Palses and his players photo
by Marlon Bernardino
Jonathan Sy, Jarry "Putol"
Pelayo and BSCP Open champ
Lee Van Corteza last Saturday
at the Aristocrat Resto in
Manila photo by Marlon Bernardino,
Marlon
Manalo and Macky Chan
Atty.
Manoling Chan and BSCP President
Mr. Ernie Fajardo
photo
by: Marlon Bernardino -
|
|
|
|
 |
CORTEZA
BEATS OROCOLLO ENTERS FINALS
Champion:
$15,000
2nd place: $6,000
Losing semi-finalist: $3,500
REIGNING NATIONAL OPEN CHAMPION Lee Vann “The
Slayer” Corteza edges compatriot Dennis
“Robocop” Orcollo (13-11), the 2006
World Pool Leaque ruler, to advance to the finals
of the inaugural 2007 Guinness 9Ball Tour Sunday
at the Sultan Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The 28-years-old Orcollo, playing Bugsy promotions
actually opened up the mouth watering semifinals
matchup strong as he was able to race to a commanding
4-0 lead against Corteza. Utilizing his textbook
form and approach of the table, Orcollo looked
to be on track to gaining his first ever finals
appearance in the annual nation hopping event.
In the fifth rack however, things turned sour
for the Quezon City based Orcollo as his opponent
started to get the hang of the table. Corteza,
the Negros Billiards Stable (NBS) ace, managed
to pull off a break and runout in the fifth
rack which shifted the momentum and paved the
way to a devastating nine rack run to demoralize
the once-confident Orcollo and have the score
immensely to his favour, 9-4.
At this stage of competition, everybody thought
that it was Orcollo should start packing his
bags as there was no way he could possibly come
back from that huge deficit.
But as a player recognized of thriving under
immense pressure, Orcollo courageously battled
back and displayed his own version of billiards
magic to string an immaculate five rack run
to get back in contention at ten racks a-piece
in the race to eleven format.
Actually, the two players turned out to be so
evenly matched that they had to utilize the
two rack advantage needed to win if play went
up to hill-hill. In fact, the rule was so rarely
used that when Orcollo pocketed the striped
nine ball to have his score go up to eleven
racks, he thought he already won and he went
to Corteza’s corner to receive his congratulations.
That was not the case to be as the referee immediately
informed him of the situation and directed the
confused Filipino back to his seat.
Play soon resumed after that brief misunderstanding
and the contestants wiped away their smiles
and resumed to display their game-faces.
Even if none of their breaks were going for
them – a strange occurrence since both
Corteza and Orcollo are known for their consistent
power-breaking, the calibre and quality of the
two players were apparent as both found ways
to take advantage of the slightest opportunities
and miscues to bring the score to a nerve racking
eleven all.
In the end, luck ran out for Orcollo as he scratched
on a crucial 1-7 combo to practically gift wrap
the match to his Filipino rival. Orcollo then
sealed his fate when he suffered another dry
break allowing Corteza to cleanup the table
on his way to victory and a finals ticket, 13-11.
“We really had trouble with the racking
in the TV table. There were spaces in between
the balls during racking. That was the reason
why there were a lot of dry breaks in our match.
But I have to give it to “Van Van”,
he was able to perform better when it mattered
which gave him his well deserved win.”
Orcollo said in Filipino.
Corteza, playing under the banner of sportsman/
businessman Jonathan “Bacolod” Sy
on the other hand said: “It was just all
luck and I hope that this luck will still follow
me in my finals match later in the afternoon.”
Corteza, the pride of Davao City is set to challenge
the winner of the all Taiwanese semifinals between
Wu Chia-Ching and Chang Jun Lin who were still
taking on each other as of press time.
Three weeks ago, Orcollo close to win but failed
to sank an easy shot in No.6 ball allowing Corteza
to clean up the table in their semi-final clash
of the 2nd BSCP National Pool Open.
Formerly the Asian 9-Ball Tour, the Guinness
9-Ball Tour has been made bigger and better
for players and fans alike with the new partnership
between ESPN STAR Sports and Guinness. Total
prize money has doubled to US$320,000 (from
US$160,000 from last year’s tour) and
the Tour will feature a grand final in Bali
for the Top 10 players. Winners of each leg
will win US$15,000 while the Grand Final Champion
will walk away with US$36,000.
The Guinness 9-Ball Tour remains the only ranking
tour in Asia for players to qualify for the
WPA World Pool Championship. The top ten finishers
in the Guinness 9-Ball Tour Order of Merit will
automatically qualify for pool’s most
prestigious event, this year’s edition
slated for a second straight staging for Manila
in November.
April 22, 2007
AMIT
BEAT GA CONTINUES
CINDERELA STORY
(BREAKING NEWS)
Ga
Young Kim (South Korea) vs Rubilen Amit (Philippines),
2-7
Yukiko
Hamanishi (Japan) vs Kim White (USA),
Kelly Fisher (Great Britain) vs Pan Xiao Ting
(China),
Pei
Chun-tsai (Chinese-Taipei) vs Shin Mei Liu
(Chinese-Taipei)
A Cinderella story of ex-Makati call center
employee in pools biggest stage continues
before afternoon Sunday.
Rubilen
Amit, a former employee of Converg’s
call center in Makati City
who gave up her job to concentrate her pro
billiard career turned country’s pool
hottest female sensation, won her quarter-finals
matches of 2007 Amway WPA Women’s World
9-Ball Championship by suprising back-back
defending champion Ga Young Kim of Korea,7-2,
at the Taipei Gymnasium in Taiwan.
The
25-years-old petite Amit, called “Bingkay”
in the local pool circuit, was larger than
expectation after reaching the semi-finals
last Sunday and surpassing his “last
24“ finish in the last year‘s
edition.
In
fact, it was the second time around that Amit
is seeing action in this biggest sports fest
in pool planet which offers lion share worth
$20,000 to the champion.
Reaching the “last 4” is not easy
for the first woman to qualify in the men’s
National Open finals after posting an unbeaten
run in the fourth leg of the qualifying round
two years ago. Amit already assured at least
$5,000 reaching the final four and possible
increase depends the results in her future
matches.
Amit,
playing under the banner of Puyat Sports stable
started with 5-4 squeakers over qualifier
Chan Ya-ting and Kao Shu-pin, both from Chinese-Taipei,
before securing one of three qualifying berths
from her group with a 5-2 win over Janine
Schanan of Germany last Thursday. Although
she yielded to Makiko Takagi of Japan, 5-3,
in the afternoon session Friday, she bounced
back in her last match and eliminate no less
than former world champion Allison Fisher
of Great Britain, 5-3, late Friday to reach
the last 24 . Fisher finish 2-3 win-loss-card
in their group stage to failed to progress.
Amit
went on to advance to the last 8 with a 7-1
win over Chang Ya-ting of Chinese-Taipei in
the evening session last Saturday. She earlier
reached the last 16 following a close 7-6
decision over Diana Stezcny of Germany in
the afternoon session Saturday.
The 27-year-old Ga, known as the “Seoul
Sensation” and “Little Devil Girl,”
is the heavy favorite in the Taipei event
because of her past record. She was the back
to back champion in this event and also the
reigning Enerva Asian 9-ball lady tour winner,
a former US Ladies Open and APA Ladies Open
titlist.
Amit
made prominence in the pool world winning
the inauguration of 2002 Asian 8-ball championships
in Singapore, interestingly, pool maestro
Efren “Bata” Reyes topped the
men’s side in the said event for the
double’s victory of team Philippines.
She
also sweep the gold medals in the 8-ball pool
singles and 9-ball pool singles in the 2005
Manila Southeast Asian games here in Manila,
first-time women’s side is include in
the medal tally.
by:
Marlon Bernardino -
04-08-07
FILIPINO
ALPAJORA BEATS MISTICA IN CALIFORNIA 9-BALL
TILT
BY: MARLON BERNARDINO
SAN FRANCISCO-based Pinoy Deomark “Deo”
Alpajora defeated compatriot Ramon “Maestro
Monching” Mistica, 7-6, in the finals
to emerge over-all champion in the recently
concluded dubbed as Third Saturday of the Month
9-Ball USPPA Tournament last April 21 at the
California Billiard Club in Mountain View, California.
Mountain View, California is located in Northern
California, about 40 miles south of San Francisco
and about 15 miles of north of San Jose.
The former Manila pride Alpajora receive the
top prize US$1,000 for his effort while Mistica
who is currently reside in Murphy, Quezon City
went home runner-up prize worth US$ 270.
Rounding up to the top 8 finishers were Bill
Hart, Ali Khazrai, Kevin Lombard, Joe Gonzales,
Kenny Maeda and Bee Davison.
The following day (April 22), Alpajora trounced
American Joseph Corpus to also rule the Sunday’s
USPPA Handicap 9-ball in the same venue.
Mistica on his part, who got prominence in the
international pool circuit after beating Filipino
legendary Jose “Amang” Parica in
the mid’s 80’s, outclassed another
US bet Jeff Gregory to win in the Wednesday
USPPA Handicap 9-ball last April 18.
Earlier this, Alpajora settled for third place
which topped by Ali Khazrai last April 15.
by: Marlon Bernardino
04-24-07
PINOY
LAPENA BEATS COMPATRIOT SAMBAJON IN NJ 9-BALL
TILT
Santos Sambajon (left), Steve Fette (middle),
and over-all champion Al Lapena (right)
BY: MARLON BERNARDINO
Complete Results:
1st Al Lapena $875
2nd Santos Sambajon $540
3rd Bristol Bob $400
4th Chavez $200
5th/6th Mike Miller $125 Adam Kielar $125
7th/8th Steve Lillis $100 Carmen Lombardo $100
9th/12th Mike Young $50 Paul Robinson $50 Chris
Taormina $50 Mhet Vergara $50
FILIPINO US based Al Lapena downed compatriot
Santos “The Saint” Sambajon, 9-7,
in the finals to emerge over-all champion in
the just concluded Blaze 9 Ball Tour Stop #
9 was held at the Rockaway Billiards, in Rockaway
New Jersey over the weekend.
Reaching the finals is not easy for Lapena who
are in the one loss side at that time. Actually,
he needed to past in the loser’s brackets
over Jim McManus 7-0, Bill Horne 7-4, Chris
Taormina 7-0, Carmen Lombardo 7-2, Adam Kielar
7-0, Chavez 7-3, and Bristol Bob 7-3 to get
to the finals.
Sambajon, a native of Macalelon, Quezon province
is undefeated in the 40 man-field before bowing
to Lapena in the championships round.
His (Sambajon) leading in the top half of the
bracket with a wins over Scott Evens 7-1, R.
Gorden 7-3, Wali Muhammad 7-6, Adam Keilar 7-4
and defeated Bristol Bob 7-4 for the hot-seat
match.
Third Filipino in the group is New Yorker Mhet
Vergara is far at 9th to 12th placers.
by:
Marlon Bernardino -
04-23-07
ORCOLLO
BEATS YANG’S EX-WORLD CHAMP MENTOR;
PHILIPPINES ASSURES RUNNER-UP FINISH IN GUINNESS
9-BALL TOUR
Quarter Finals round pairings (April 21/ Saturday):
Wu Chia-ching (Chinese-Taipei) vs Bernard Tey
Choon (Singapore)
Jimmy Jusman (Indonesia) vs Chang Jung-lin (Chinese-Taipei)
Chao Fong-pang (Chinese-Taipei) vs Dennis Orcollo
(Philippines), 5-9
Lee Vann Corteza (Philippines) vs Ronato Alcano
(Philippines), 9-8
FILIPINO ace Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo
defeated ex-world champ Taiwanese Chao Fong-pang,
9-5, to forged an all Filipino semi-final affair
against countryman reigning national open champion
Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza, a
9-8 decision winner over double world champion
Ronato “Volcano” Alcano Saturday
night in the ongoing inauguration of 2007 Guinness
9-ball tour being held at the Golden Ballroom
of Sultan Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The Philippines assure at least a runner-up
finish in the Asian 9-ball tour despite whatever
the outcome of the matches between Orcollo and
Corteza.
The 28-years-old Orcollo, top player of Bugsy
promotions dominates his Group F brackets the
other day to advance in the final eight yesterday.
Orcollo, the 2006 World Pool Leaque ruler trounced
Siauw Wieto of Indonesia (9-4) and Liu Hai Tao
of China (9-6) in the group play, three-man
field single elimination format.
Chao is the mentor of Asian Superstar Yang Ching-shun,
who beat Orcollo in the race-to-60, 9-ball duel
recently in Gateway Mall in Quezon City.
“ Kung sakali magkaroon na ako ng sapat
na puntos para sa top 10 sa Grandfinal ay ibibigay
ko na ang karapatan maglaro sa iba lalo n asana
ang mga Filipino na di pa qualified sa WPC.”
Said the Quezon City based Orcollo.
“Talagang pinagbutihan ko, krusyal ‘yung
game ko kay Chao kasi pag nanalo ako ay tiyak
na may papasok na Pinoy sa finals dahil una
ng nanalo si Lee Van kay Ronnie.” Added
Orcollo, acknowledged Philippine Billiard Money
game king.
The 28-years-old Corteza on the other hand,
playing under the banner of Negros Billiard
Stable (NBS) also topped his Group G brackets
after beating Muhammad Zulfikri of Indonesia
(9-5) in the afternoon session then toppled
Lee He Wen of China (9-4) in the evening session.
Alcano, the 34-years-old another Bugsy stalwart
on his part, also conquer his Group H division
by smashing Patrick Ooi of Malaysia (9-5) then
nipped Yang Ching-shun of Chinese-Taipei (9-7)
late Friday.
Both Orcollo and Corteza assured worth $3,500
after making it to the final four. Alcano and
Chao received consolation purse worth $1,900
after making it to the final eight. The champion
receive $15,000 while $6,000 for the runner-up
prize.
The other final eight marquee matches were Wu
Chia-ching of Chinese-Taipei vs Bernard Tey
Choon of Singapore and Jimmy Jusman of Indonesia
vs Chang Jung-lin of Chinese-Taipei. The two
survivors will be clashing in the next round.
After Corteza won the opening lag, Alcano took
the first rack after Corteza’s dry break.
Two balls (5 and 7 ball) in the break for Alcano
but failed to sank the last No.9 ball allowing
Corteza to tied tha game at 1 all count.
Corteza made a golden break in the 3rd rack
but Alcano answered another golden break in
the 4th rack to level the game at 2 all rack
score.
After Corteza committed a scratch in the 5th
racks allowing Alcano to take a 3-2 lead commanding
lead after he sank the 3 to 9 combination in
this race-to-9, alternate break format. However
Alcano made a nag dry break in the 6th racks
that leads Corteza to clean up the table for
a 3-3 count.
Corteza failed to sank the No.1 ball in the
7th racks as Alcano made bank shot in the No.1
ball and 3 cushions in the No.8 ball for a 4-3
lead. Alcano made blunder in the No.6 ball in
the 8th racks allowing Corteza to tie the game
at 4 all rack score.
Corteza pulled a power break in the 9th racks
but failed to sink any ball. Then Alcano failed
to sank No.1 ball via long shot as Corteza played
a 1-9 combo for a 5-4 lead.
It was a second dry break for Alcano in the
10th racks but Corteza failed to sank No.1 ball
but Alcano committed a foul that giveway Corteza
for 6-4 lead using the 5-9 combo.
Corteza failed to sustain his winning advantage
after committing his second straight dry break
allowing Alcano to close the match at 6-5 count
but the latter’s (Alcano) successfully
sank the No.5 and the No.7 ball but failed to
sank the No.1 ball in a long shot as Corteza
take a 7-5 advantage.
However, Corteza again committed dry break in
the 13th racks as Alcano take a 1-8 combo but
miss pink 4 ball. After Corteza made a safety
shot in the 3 ball as Alcano failed to sank
the No.3 ball but Corteza committed a foul in
the 3 ball covering the 7 ball that leads Alcano
to slice the match at 6-7 count.
Alcano made another safety shot in the 14th
racks for No. 3 ball as the 8 and 9 ball covering
the mother ball. Corteza replied a safety shot
in the No.3 ball but Alcano sank the No.3 ball
followed a 7-9 combo for a 7 all.
Corteza made two balls (5 and 7 ball) in the
break then clean up the table to reach the hill.
Alcano won the 16th racks to settle the issue
at 8 all.
In the 17th racks, Corteza sank the No. 6 ball
but failed to sank the No. 8 ball. Alcano failed
to sank the No.8 ball using the bank shot sa
8 ball allowing Corteza to escaped a narrow
9-8 victory.
Eearlier, Corteza easily crushed his elimination-round
rivals to advance to the quarterfinals alongside
Alcano and Orcollo.
“ I hope to do well in this event again
please pray for me.” the 28-years-old
Davao cue master said playing under the wings
of sportsman/ businessman Jonathan “Bacolod”
Sy.
The top player of Negros Billiard Stable (NBS)
under the guidance of manager/ head coach Christopher
Palses is aiming to duplicate his feat in the
2004 Manila edition when he beat former world
no.1 Francisco “Django” Bustamante
in the finals, 13-11, to win his first Asian
9-ball tour leg crown.
2005 World Pool 9-ball Champion and 2005 World
Pool 8-ball winner Wu Chia-ching of Chinese-Taipei
also advanced in the next round after besting
2006 Doha Asian games 9-ball silver medallist
Jeffrey “The Bull” De Luna (9-4)
and edges
Dharminder Singh Lily of Indonesia (9-8) in
Group A side.
Actually, De Luna had a slim chance to enter
in the final eight after crushing Lily (9-1)
in their second match and hoping that Lily can
upset Wu to create a two-way tie and praying
that he had a superior tie-break over Wu.
All four Filipino representatives this year
did not see action in the Tour last year. But
Alcano won a leg in the 2005 Tour and Corteza
topped the Philippine leg in the 2004 Tour.
All four are considered among the elite in Filipino
pool today.
Taiwan's Chang Jung-Lin dominated his Group
D matches by beating 2003 and 2005 Southeast
Asian games gold medallist Luong Chi Dung of
Vietnam (9-8) and Ricky Yang of Indonesia (9-7)
respectively to advance in the next round.
Local star Jimmy Jusman also make it in the
final eight after swept his Group C assignment.
He overpowered Filipino-Malaysian Ibrahim Bin
Amir (9-8) and Tan Tiong Boong of Singapore
(9-6) in order.
Bernard Tey Choon of Singapore and another ex-world
9-ball champion Chao Fong-pang of Chinese-Taipei
finished with 1-1 win-loss records but also
advance in the knock-out stage due to superior
quotient.
Bernard who loss his opening match against Nitiwat
Kanjanasri of Indonesia (6-9) but prevailed
against Au Chi Wai of Hongkong (9-5) to topped
the Group B section. Kanjanasri loss to Au (5-9).
Chao opened his bids in a high note with a 9-5
victory against Japan no.1 player Naoyuki Oi
in Group E but loss to Ryu Seong Wu of Korea,
8-9. Ryu yielded to Naoyuki, 5-9.
With Guinness as the new sponsor, the entire
Tour offers total prize money of $320,000 (up
from US$160,000 last year), and it will feature
a Grand Final in Bali for the Top 10 players.
Winners of each leg will win US$15,000 while
the Grand Final Champion will walk away with
US$36,000. With six stops, this is the biggest
Tour since its inception in 2003.
After
the opening leg in Jakarta, the Tour¡Çs
other stops are Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei on
May 18 to 20 then off to Genting Highlands Resort
in Malaysia on June 15 to 17, 2007. The next
leg will be in Singapore on July 13 to 15, 2007,
and in Shanghai, China on August 3 to 5, 2007.
The
Grand Championship Final is slated August 31
to Sept. 2 in Bali, Indonesia.
The Tour qualifies players for the WPA World
Pool Championship. The top ten finishers will
automatically qualify for pool’s most
prestigious event, which is slated in Manila
on November 3-11.
The
Guinness 9-Ball Tour will be broadcast live
by Star Sports, with 15 hours devoted to each
leg. Each leg will be held over three days,
with the field of 24 players divided into eight
groups which will play a single round-robin
format. The eight group winners will advance
to the quarter-finals where the knockout format
will apply as the players play through to the
final.
Meanwhile, it was intense battle in the money
game being held at the pool hall called Green
Garden according to report of matchroom forum
sports.
De Luna bowed to local ace Siaw Wieto, 10-12,
for US$1,100 last Wednesday while Alcano beat
another hometown named Biwi and gave him 2 or
3 racks handicap.
Taiwan’s Chang Jung-ling beat another
Indon Ricky Yang 13-6 for US$1,600 while Orcollo
played with Muhammad Zulfikri, another player
from the host country also gave him handicap
according to Matchroom forum sports.
Last Thursday, Zulfikri vs Alcano 9-11, 11-7
for $200 a set; Ricky Yang vs Jeff de luna 7-10
for $100; Budi (local player) vs Filipino-Malaysian
Ibrahim Bin Amir 11-5 for $1,300.
In
the latest result last Friday: William (local
players) vs Viet Luong Chi Dong 8-11 for $600.
Yesterday,
Saturday is would be very interesting match.
Alcano will meet Asian Superstar Yang Ching-Shun
of Chinese-Taipei. Alcano with his many Indonesian
sponsors will play at least $3,000 per set.
by:
Marlon Bernardino -
04-21-07
CORTEZA, TWO OTHERS PINOY TO ADVANCE TO QUARTER
FINALS
Quarter Finals round pairings (April 21/ Saturday):
Wu Chia-ching (Chinese-Taipei) vs Bernard
Tey Choon (Singapore)
Jimmy Jusman (Indonesia) vs Chang Jung-lin
(Chinese-Taipei)
Chao Fong-pang (Chinese-Taipei) vs Dennis
Orcollo (Philippines)
Lee Vann Corteza (Philippines) vs Ronato Alcano
(Philippines)
REIGNING NATIONAL OPEN CHAMPION Lee Vann “The
Slayer” Corteza easily crushed his elimination-round
rivals to advance to the quarterfinals alongside
compatriot double world champion Ronato “Volcano”
Alcano and Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo,
the 2006 World Pool Leaque ruler in the inauguration
of 2007 Guinness 9-ball tour being held at
the Golden Ballroom of Sultan Hotel in Jakarta,
Indonesia
In a long distance exclusive interview to
Dux Carvajal of ESPN who has at the venue
late Friday, Corteza, top player of Negros
Billiards Stable (NBS) subdued Muhammad Zulfikri
of Indonesia (9-5) in the afternoon session
then toppled Lee He Wen of China (9-4) in
the evening session to top the Group G brackets
with 2 win-loss records.
“ I hope to do well in this event again
please pray for me.” the 28-years-old
Davao cue master said playing under the wings
of sportsman/ businessman Jonathan “Bacolod”
Sy.
The top player of Negros Billiard Stable (NBS)
under the guidance of manager/ head coach
Christopher Palses is aiming to duplicate
his feat in the 2004 Manila edition when he
beat former world no.1 Francisco “Django”
Bustamante in the finals, 13-11, to win his
first Asian 9-ball tour leg crown.
The 34-years-old lanky cue artist Alcano on
the other hand, the pride of Calamba City,
Laguna smashed Patrick Ooi of Malaysia (9-5)
then nipped Yang Ching-shun of Chinese-Taipei
(9-7) late Friday to dominates the Group H
side.
Orcollo, the 28-years-old Bislig, Surigao
del Sur native match the 2-0 win-loss record
of countryman Corteza and Alcano after demolishing
Siauw Wieto of Indonesia (9-4) and
Liu Hai Tao of China (9-6) to conquer the
Group F division.
2005 World Pool 9-ball Champion and 2005 World
Pool 8-ball winner Wu Chia-ching of Chinese-Taipei
also advanced in the next round after besting
2006 Doha Asian games 9-ball silver medallist
Jeffrey “The Bull” De Luna (9-4)
and edges
Dharminder Singh Lily of Indonesia (9-8) in
Group A side.
Actually, De Luna had a slim chance to enter
in the final eight after crushing Lily (9-1)
in their second match and hoping that Lily
can upset Wu to create a two-way tie and praying
that he had a superior tie-break over Wu.
All four Filipino representatives this year
did not see action in the Tour last year.
But Alcano won a leg in the 2005 Tour and
Corteza topped the Philippine leg in the 2004
Tour. All four are considered among the elite
in Filipino pool today.
Taiwan's Chang Jung-Lin dominated his Group
D matches by beating 2003 and 2005 Southeast
Asian games gold medallist Luong Chi Dung
of Vietnam (9-8) and Ricky Yang of Indonesia
(9-7) respectively to advance in the next
round.
Local star Jimmy Jusman also make it in the
final eight after swept his Group C assignment.
He overpowered Filipino-Malaysian Ibrahim
Bin Amir (9-8) and Tan Tiong Boong of Singapore
(9-6) in order.
Bernard Tey Choon of Singapore and another
ex-world 9-ball champion Chao Fong-pang of
Chinese-Taipei finished with 1-1 win-loss
records but also advance in the knock-out
stage due to superior quotient.
Bernard who loss his opening match against
Nitiwat Kanjanasri of Indonesia (6-9) but
prevailed against Au Chi Wai of Hongkong (9-5)
to topped the Group B section. Kanjanasri
loss to Au (5-9).
Chao opened his bids in a high note with a
9-5 victory against Japan no.1 player Naoyuki
Oi in Group E but loss to Ryu Seong Wu of
Korea, 8-9. Ryu yielded to Naoyuki, 5-9.
With Guinness as the new sponsor, the entire
Tour offers total prize money of $320,000
(up from US$160,000 last year), and it will
feature a Grand Final in Bali for the Top
10 players. Winners of each leg will win US$15,000
while the Grand Final Champion will walk away
with US$36,000. With six stops, this is the
biggest Tour since its inception in 2003.
After the opening leg in Jakarta, the Tour¡Çs
other stops are Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei
on May 18 to 20 then off to Genting Highlands
Resort in Malaysia on June 15 to 17, 2007.
The next leg will be in Singapore on July
13 to 15, 2007, and in Shanghai, China on
August 3 to 5, 2007.
The Grand Championship Final is slated August
31 to Sept. 2 in Bali, Indonesia.
The Tour qualifies players for the WPA World
Pool Championship. The top ten finishers will
automatically qualify for pool’s most
prestigious event, which is slated in Manila
on November 3-11.
The Guinness 9-Ball Tour will be broadcast
live by Star Sports, with 15 hours devoted
to each leg. Each leg will be held over three
days, with the field of 24 players divided
into eight groups which will play a single
round-robin format. The eight group winners
will advance to the quarter-finals where the
knockout format will apply as the players
play through to the final.
Meanwhile, it was intense battle in the money
game being held at the pool hall called Green
Garden according to report of matchroom forum
sports.
De Luna bowed to local ace Siaw Wieto, 10-12,
for US$1,100 last Wednesday while Alcano beat
another hometown named Biwi and gave him 2
or 3 racks handicap.
Taiwan’s Chang Jung-ling beat another
Indon Ricky Yang 13-6 for US$1,600 while Orcollo
played with Muhammad Zulfikri, another player
from the host country also gave him handicap
according to matchroom forum sports.
Last Thursday, Zulfikri vs Alcano 9-11, 11-7
for $200 a set; Ricky Yang vs Jeff de luna
7-10 for $100; Budi (local player) vs Filipino-Malaysian
Ibrahim Bin Amir 11-5 for $1,300.
In
the latest result last Friday: William (local
players) vs viet Luong Chi Dong 8-11 for $600
Today, Saturday is would be very interesting
match. Alcano will meet Asian Superstar Yang
Ching-Shun of Chinese-Taipei. Alcano with
his many Indonesian sponsors will play at
least $3,000 a set.
by:
Marlon Bernardino -
04-20-07
CORTEZA,
THREE OTHERS IN 9BALL TOUR TODAY
LEE
VAN CORTEZA, the reigning 2nd BSCP National
Pool 9-ball champion, will spearhead the Philippines’
bid in the Guinness 9-Ball Tour which kicks
off today, Friday (April 20) at the Sultan Hotel
in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The other Filipino bets are double world champion
(9-ball and 8-ball) Ronato “Volcano”
Alcano, Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo,
2006 World Pool League champion; and Jeffrey
“The Bull” de Luna, silver medalist
in the 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball competition.
Filipino players dominated the Tour last year
as they won all four legs. Efren “Bata”
Reyes won two events, and Rodolfo “Boy
Samson” Luat and Ramil “Bebeng”
Gallego took one each. The 2006 Tour and all
previous editions were sponsored by San Miguel
Beer.
However, Reyes along his stable mate former
world no.1 Francisco “Django” Bustamante
will missed to play in the Asian 9-ball tour
this year because the two FIlipino cue icon
are brand endorser of San Miguel Beer, a direct
competitor of Guinness, an Iris stout beer,
the new titled sponsor of the Asian 9-ball tour
which served a qualifying round of November’s
World Pool Championships in Manila.
“Magandang exposure ito para sa World
Pool Championships, pangarap ko kasing Mag champ
sa WPC, sabagay kahit sino mang Filipino ay
‘yun ang dream nila.” said the 28-years-old
top player of Negros Billiard Stable (NBS),
who has won four Gold Medals and one Silver
Medal at the Southeast Asian Games, and was
the winner of the 2004 Asian 9-ball Tour tournament
in the Manila as well, beating fellow countryman
Francisco “Django” Bustamante 13-11
in the final.
“Sana ipagdasal n’yo po ako.”
added Davao cue master Corteza who beat Marlon
“Marvelous” Manalo, 13-11, in the
finals to rules the 2nd BSCP National Pool Championships
recently held at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in
Malate, Manila.
He is nicknamed "Van Van" or “The
Slayer“, and started playing pool in 1993.
He also won the 39th All Japan Championships
last December to already secured slot in World
Pool Championships in Manila on November.
Corteza will also see action in a series of
competitions in the United States slated next
month. He will play in the Predator Championships
in Florida whose stint is backed up by sportsman/
businessman Jonathan "Bacolod" Sy.
He
was invited to strut his stuff along with Alcano
in the $50,000 winner-take all International
Challenge of Champions on August 8 and 9 in
the Mohegan Suns Casino in Unscasville, Connecticut
in USA.
Sportsman/ businessman Jonathan “Bacolod”
Sy are aiming this year’s World Pool Champion
is coming from the South (Visayas-Mindanao).
“The
main objective of NBS (Negros Billiard Stable)
is that a player coming from Visayas and Mindanao
will be declared world champion. Along with
Sir Jonathan (Sy), we are full support for Van-Van
campaign.” said Christopher Palses, head
coach and team manager of Negros Billiard Stable.
“
I always beside Lee Van (Corteza) campaign.”
added sportsman/ businessman Jonathan Sy, benefactor
of Corteza, as well Rodolfo “Boy Samson”
Luat, fire cracker victim Jarry “Putol”
Pelayo, Panfilo “Lintok Abu” Damuag,
Reynaldo “Karambola king” Grandea,
Jech-Jech “ giant killer” Lemen,
Ricky “Bai” Zerna, Godofredo “Boy
Cotabato” Ducanes and Russian Petiza among
others.
Efren “Bata” Reyes from Angeles
City, Pampanga, acknowledged “The Magician”
in the pool world won the World 9-ball Pool
Championships in 1999 at Cardiff, Wales in England.
Alex
“The Lion” Pagulayan, a native of
Cabagan, Isabela won the world 9-ball crown
in 2004 at Taipei in Taiwan while Ronato “Volcano”
Alcano from Calamba, Laguna bested German ace
Ralf “Kaiser” Souquet to rules the
2006 World 9-ball crown in Manila.
Bustamante,
the pride of Tarlac City finished runner-up
in the 2002 edition in Cardiff yielding to American
Earl “The Pearl” Strickland while
Pagulayan also finished runner-up in the 2003
edition in Cardiff losing to eventual champion
Thorsten “The Hitman’ Hohmann of
Germany
Meanwhile, Filipino supremacy in the Tour will
be hotly contested this time by players from
Chinese Taipei, China, Vietnam and Indonesia.
While Taiwanese players like Wu Chia-ching and
Yang Ching-shun have long been known as among
the world’s best, the players from China,
Vietnam and Indonesia are beginning to rise
in the international arena. They drew attention
at the 2006 World Pool championship in Manila
last November.
The Philippine team will be missing the celebrated
Reyes and Bustamante this time. All four Filipino
representatives this year did not see action
in the Tour last year. But Alcano won a leg
in the 2005 Tour and Corteza topped the Philippine
leg in the 2004 Tour. All four are considered
among the elite in Filipino pool today
With Guinness as the new sponsor, the entire
Tour offers total prize money of $320,000 (up
from US$160,000 last year), and it will feature
a Grand Final in Bali for the Top 10 players.
Winners of each leg will win US$15,000 while
the Grand Final Champion will walk away with
US$36,000. With six stops, this is the biggest
Tour since its inception in 2003.
After
the opening leg in Jakarta, the Tour’s
other stops are Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei on
May 18 to 20 then off to Genting Highlands Resort
in Malaysia on June 15 to 17, 2007. The next
leg will be in Singapore on July 13 to 15, 2007,
and in Shanghai, China on August 3 to 5, 2007.
The
Grand Championship Final is slated August 31
to Sept. 2 in Bali, Indonesia.
The Tour qualifies players for the WPA World
Pool Championship. The top ten finishers will
automatically qualify for pool’s most
prestigious event, which is slated in Manila
on November 3-11.
The
Guinness 9-Ball Tour will be broadcast live
by Star Sports, with 15 hours devoted to each
leg. Each leg will be held over three days,
with the field of 24 players divided into eight
groups which will play a single round-robin
format. The eight group winners will advance
to the quarter-finals where the knockout format
will apply as the players play through to the
final.
by:
Marlon Bernardino -
04-19-07
CORTEZA ORCOLLO TAKE CHAREGE
DELUNA SUFFERED A DOUBLE BLACK EYE
THE
Philippines' hottest young cue artists Lee Van
¡ÈThe Slayer¡É Corteza
and Dennis ¡ÈRobocop¡É
Orcollo easily hurdled their first round assignments
in the inauguration of 2007 Guinness 9-ball tour
being held at the Golden Ballroom of Sultan Hotel
in Jakarta, Indonesia.
According to Dux Carvajal of ESPN who has at the
venue on Friday, Corteza, top player of Negros
Billiards Stable (NBS) easily completed an 9-5
first-round victory over Muhammad Zulfikri of
Indonesia in group G while Orcollo had an easier
time with an 9-4 win against another Indon bet
Siauw Wieto in group F.
The 28-years-old Davao cue master Corteza, playing
under the banner of sportsman/ businessman Jonathan
¡ÈBacolod¡É Sy is the
reigning national open champion and 39th All Japan
Championships winner, will face Lee He Wen of
China in the next round.
On the other hand, the 28-years-old Bislig, Surigao
del Sur native Orcollo, the 2006 World Pool Leaque
ruler takes on Liu Hao Tao of China.
A third Filipino, Jeffrey ¡ÈThe Bull¡É
De Luna, the 2006 Doha Asian games 9-ball silver
medallist were not fortunate this time losing
to 2005 World Pool Champion Wu-Chia Ching of Chinese-Taipei,
4-9, in group A.
De Luna defeated Dharminder Singh Lily of Indonesia,
9-1, in the next round to finished 1 win, 1 loss
card in the three-man group stage, single elimination
round-robin format.
However, in a long distance exclusive interview
with Carvajal yesterday, he mention that De Luna's
quest for the next stage is small chances as Wu
takes on Lily where the former (Wu) is had a big
margin favor to win against the latter's (Lily)
for a possible perfect 2.0 win-loss record.
¡ÈWu is expected to win his last
match against his Indon rivals for a possible
2-0 win-loss record.¡É Carvajal said
yesterday before the match of Wu against Lily.
It was a double black eye of De luna who loss
in a money game battle last Wednesday against
local player Siaw Wieto, 10-12, where at stakes
is US$1,100 according to news report of matchroom
forum sports.
Fourth Filipino in the group is double world champion
(WPA 9-ball and WPA 8-ball) Ronato ¡ÈVolcano¡É
Alcano still playing as of press time (yesterday
afternoon at 5 pm in Manila time) with Patrick
Ooi of Malaysia in group H. The 34-years-old lanky
cue artists Alcano from Calamba City, Laguna also
schedule to meet YangChing-shun of Chinese-Taipei
late Friday.
The Philippine team will be missing the celebrated
hall of famer Efren ¡ÈBata¡É
Reyes and former world no.1 Francisco ¡ÈDjango¡É
Bustamante this time.
Reyes and Bustamante, both top player of RP billiards
patron Aristeo ¡ÈPutch¡É
Puyat are brand endorser of San Miguel Beer, direct
competitor of Guinness, the Irish stout beer,
famous in whole part of Europe as well in Asia
but not in the Philippines.
All four Filipino representatives this year did
not see action in the Tour last year. But Alcano
won a leg in the 2005 Tour and Corteza topped
the Philippine leg in the 2004 Tour. All four
are considered among the elite in Filipino pool
today.
Meanwhile, Taiwan's Chang Jung-Lin dominated his
group D matches by beating 2003 and 2005 Southeast
Asian games gold medallist Luong Chi Dung of Vietnam,
9-8, and Ricky Yang of Indonesia, 9-7, respectively
to advance in the next round.
Local star Jimmy Jusman also make it in the next
round after swept his group C assignment. He overpowered
Filipino-Malaysian Ibrahim Bin Amir, 9-8, and
Tan Tiong Boong of Singapore, 9-6, in order.
Nitiwat Kanjanasri of Indonesia who pulled an
9-6 victory against Bernard Tey Choon Kiet of
Singapore, 9-6, in the opening match in group
B stage failed to sustain his momentum yielding
to Au Chi Wai of Hongkong, 5-9, in next round
match.
Another ex-world champ Taiwan's Chao Fong Pang
opened his bids in a high note with a 9-5 victory
against Japan no.1 player Naoyuki Oi in group
E.
With Guinness as the new sponsor, the entire Tour
offers total prize money of $320,000 (up from
US$160,000 last year), and it will feature a Grand
Final in Bali for the Top 10 players. Winners
of each leg will win US$15,000 while the Grand
Final Champion will walk away with US$36,000.
With six stops, this is the biggest Tour since
its inception in 2003.
After
the opening leg in Jakarta, the Tour¡Çs
other stops are Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei on May
18 to 20 then off to Genting Highlands Resort
in Malaysia on June 15 to 17, 2007. The next leg
will be in Singapore on July 13 to 15, 2007, and
in Shanghai, China on August 3 to 5, 2007.
The
Grand Championship Final is slated August 31 to
Sept. 2 in Bali, Indonesia.
The Tour qualifies players for the WPA World Pool
Championship. The top ten finishers will automatically
qualify for pool¡Çs most prestigious
event, which is slated in Manila on November 3-11.
The Guinness 9-Ball Tour will be broadcast live
by Star Sports, with 15 hours devoted to each
leg. Each leg will be held over three days, with
the field of 24 players divided into eight groups
which will play a single round-robin format. The
eight group winners will advance to the quarter-finals
where the knockout format will apply as the players
play through to the final.
by:
Marlon Bernardino -
04-20-07
LEE
VAN CORTEZA TRY SUSTAIN HIS WINNING WAYS
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LEE VAN “THE SLAYER” CORTEZA try to sustain
his first place finish in the recently-concluded 2nd
BSCP National Pool Championships, as he compete in the
inauguration of 2007 Guinness 9-ball tour on April 20-21,
2007 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
It shall be recalled, Corteza, the 28-years-old top
player of Negros Billiard Stable (NBS) escaped a 13-11
close win to Marlon “Marvelous” Manalo in
the finals of the said tournament, held in Ninoy Aquino
Stadium in Malate, Manila two weeks ago.
It was the first major title of Davao City native
Corteza this year who just won the 39th All Japan
Championships in Tokyo, Japan last December to secured
slot in this year’s World Pool Championships
in Manila this November.
“Consistent ako ngayon nagpa praktis. 50 racks
a day, kahapon (Biyernes) hindi ako nag praktis para
mabigyan ko ng full time ang aking pamilya kasama
na ang pagpapasalamat sa Poong Maykapal na nagbigay
ng mga blessings sa akin sa nakalipas na mga araw.”
Corteza whose stint is supported by sportsman/ businessman
Jonathan “Bacolod” Sy has also been invited
to pay in the Predator Championships next month in
Florida and the prestigious International Challenge
of Champion P50,000 winner-take all matches at the
Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut in July.
Aside from Corteza, other Filipino cue artists competing
in Guinness 9-ball tour, which offers a top purse
US$15,00w inners of each leg while the Grand Final
Champion will walk away with US$36,000 are double
world champion Ronato “Volcano” Alcano,
2006 World Pool Leaque ruler Dennis “Robocop”
Orcollo and 2006 Doha Asian games 9-ball silver medallist
Jeffrey “The Bull” De Luna.
“We are confident that our players will continue
their domination in the inauguration of Guinness 9-ball
tour,” said Billiards and Snooker Congress of
the Philippines (BSCP) president Ernesto “Ernie”
Fajardo in a recent interview.
“Our triumph in the past month provided a good
start for our campaign this year, and the BSCP sees’
no reason of it stopping. Instead we are looking forward
for another banner year,” he added.
Fajardo also revealed that Manalo and Antonio “Nickoy”
Lining is next choice of the billiard federation and
assured slot in the second leg of 2007 Guinness 9-ball
tour in Kaohsiung in May.
The 30-years-old Manalo from Mandaluyong City, who
twice third in the Euro Tour (Switzerland and Czech
Republic) early this year finished runner-up to Corteza
in the BSCP National Open while Orcollo finish third
and Lining goes fourth.
Other
legs are Kuala Lumpur in June, Singapore in July,
Shanghai in August and culminates in Bali in September.
With six stops, this is the biggest Tour since its
inception in 2003. Formerly the Asian 9-Ball Tour,
the Guinness 9-Ball Tour has been made bigger and
better for players and fans alike with the new partnership
between ESPN STAR Sports and Guinness. Total prize
money has doubled to US$320,000 (from US$160,000 for
last year’s Tour) and the Tour will feature
a Grand Final in Bali for the Top 10 players.
The six-city Guinness 9-Ball Tour begins in Jakarta
on April 20, 2007, and will attract Asia’s top
cuemasters competing for the region's biggest purses.
Asian Professional Billiards Union-sanctioned players
from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Korea,
Japan, Thailand, India, China and Taiwan all countries
with strong following of the sport will be taking
part.
The Guinness 9-Ball Tour remains the only ranking
tour in Asia for players to qualify for the WPA World
Pool Championship. The top ten finishers in the Guinness
9-Ball Tour Order of Merit will automatically qualify
for pool's most prestigious event, this year's edition
slated for Manila in November.
The Philippine had a four slot's two from the endorsement
of organizing group ESPN Star Sports and Guinness
and the other two coming from the Billiards and Snooker
Congress of the Philippines (BSCP).
The 34-years-old Alcano, signed a P1 million one-year
contract for endorsing Guinness Beer, the famous Irish
stout beer.
by:
Marlon Bernardino -
04-07-07
BEAMING
National Pool champion Lee Van “The Slayer”
Corteza (right) sits beside his benefactor and sports
patron Jonathan “Bacolod” Sy. Standing
behind them is Negros Billiard Stable (NBS) teammate
Jarry “Putol” Pelayo. (Photo By Marlon
Bernardino)
DENNIS
“ROBOCOP” ORCOLLO, acknowledge Philippine
Billiards Money Game King made short work with fellow
Bugsy stablemate Jharome “Pendong” Peña
(9-1), to join three others Filipino pool sharks in
the winner’s brackets.
Orcollo who toppled Joven Bustamante (9-2) last Wednesday
will face defending champion Alex “The Lion”
Pagulayan last night, winner over Godofredo “Boy”
Ducanes (9-4).
Orcollo, the 2006 World Pool Leaque ruler also schedule
to face Yang Shing-chun in their race-to-60, 9-ball
tournament on April 12 at the Gateway Mall in Quezon
City.
“Inaasahan kong magiging madugo ang laban naman
ni Alex (Pagulayan) tiyak yan.” He added.
Aside from Orcollo and Pagulayan, also in the winning
column who posted their fourth straight wins in as many
round are Ramil “Bebeng” Gallego and Antonio
“Nickoy” Lining who both hurdle their respective
matches.
Gallego trounced Carlo Biado (9-6) while Lining stopped
giant killer Jomar de Ocampo (9-6). Gallego and Lining
still playing each other ass of presstime in the winner’s
brackets.
Meanwhile, Bustamante continues his winning ways after
beating Rodolfo “Boy Samson” Luat (9-2)
in the loser’s side. He earlier beat double world
champion Ronato Alcano (9-3) in the afternoon session
yesterday.
In other marquee matches in the one loss side; Lee Van
Corteza ousted Antonio “Ga-Ga” Gabica (9-5);
Edgardo “Malabon” Acaba escaped with another
OFW Al James Ortega (9-7) and Marlon “Marvelous”
Manalo beat Eduardo “Pikoy” Villanueva (9-3).
ALCANO EYES ASIAN 9-BALL TOUR AFTER LOSING TO BSCP OPEN
DOUBLE world champion Ronato “Volcano” Alcano
is aiming to bounce back after losing to 2nd BSCP National
Pool Championships Thursday when he compete in the forthcoming
inauguration of 2007 Guinness Asian 9-ball tour on April
20 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Alcano played yesterday not in tip-top form used to
be because of facing the filed charges of her 14-years-old
daughter in the Quezon City Prosecutor Office last Tuesday.
The 34-years-old lanky cue artists from Calamba City,
Laguna yielded to Joven Bustamante, 9-3, in their TV
table matches yesterday.
“Maganda ang nilaro ni Joven (Bustamante).”
Said Alcano who also got an invitation to play in the
2007 International Challenge of Champions at the Mohegan
Suns Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, USA later this
year.
“Inaalat din ‘yung laro ko dalawang beses
ako nag break walang pumasok,” Alcano added.
The 28-years-old Bustamante, an Oversees Filipino Worker
(OFW) who just arrived from Kuwait took the 3-0 commanding
lead in the race-to-9, alternate breaks format.
“Medyo pinapalad lamang pumapabor ‘yung
bola sa akin. Saka mahirap maglaro pag may iba kang
iniisip.” Bustamante referring to his Bugsy stablemate
Alcano.
Trailing behind 3-0, Alcano closet the match at 3-2
count winning consecutive racks. However, Bustamante
won three consecutive racks to seized a 6-2 lead in
the event presented by San Miguel Corporation which
offers P500,000 to the champion.
Alcano won the 9th racks but Bustamante never looked
back winning the last three racks for a 9-3 victory.
“ Malaking factor din ‘yung pagdarasal ko
bago ko makalaban si Ronnie (Alcano).” Added Bustamante,
the 2004 8-ball middle-east champion, back to back 2005-06
Kuwait 9-ball Open champion.
Bustamante also reach semi-final round in the 2007 World
8-Ball Championships in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates
which topped by Alcano.
Alcano suffered his first loss at the hands of Fidel
Punzalan (9-5) in their second round matches in the
winner’s brackets while Bustamante bowed to Dennis
Orcollo (9-2), the other day.
RAÑOLA REACH SEMIS
IRIS RAÑOLA, the 2006 Doha Asian games 9-ball
semi-finalist edges Mary-Ann Basas (7-6) late Wednesday
to join early semi-finalist Rubilen “Bingkay”
Amit in the winning column who blanked Minse Grace Mercurio
(7-0).
Rañola will face today, Friday, the survivor
Mari Christy Danar-Jingle David tussle late Thursday.
Amit, on the other hand will clash the winner of the
match between Mercurio and Basas.
Mercurio, top player of Negros Billiard Stable (NBS)
defeated Michaela Claveria (7-6) in the loser’s
side yesterday to keep her hope alive in this P200,000
top prize event.
Danar who suffered her first loss at the hands of Claveria
(7-4) in the second round of winner’s brackets
bounced back in contention by demolishing Johanna Dee
(7-2) yesterday.
by:
Marlon Bernardino -
03-29-07
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