Corteza and Zerna

NATIONAL OPEN CHAMP CORTEZA IS BACK IN GUINNESS 9-BALL TOUR

REIGNING National Open champion Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza might compete in the final leg of the Guinness 9-ball tour on August 3-5 in Shanghai, China.

This was bared by the officials of Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) in an exclusive interview with this writer.

"Corteza should be in the last leg." said BSCP chairman Yen Makabenta last Saturday when this writer spotted him in the Bugsy Lair's billiard hall in Quezon City.

On the other hand, BSCP president Ernesto Fajardo who is in Singapore to give moral support for the RP cue master said in a long distance telephone interview last Sunday, "We (BSCP) will consider him (Corteza), saka minungkahi din sa akin ni Alex (Pagulayan) na paglaruin si Corteza kasi sayang naman ang kanyang ranking points."

However, the 28-years-old Corteza from Davao City was so dissapointed when BSCP replaced him twice, despite showing relatively good performance going to the final leg.
" Masyado nila (BSCP) akong na pressure, kailangan maka abot ako sa semis sa last leg sa Shanghai, China para sa posibleng pagpasok ko sa grand finale sa Bali, Indonesia." insisted Corteza, also the top player of Negros Billiards Stable.
" Nais ko lamang po na magdala ng karangalan sa bansa." added Corteza, multiple gold medallist in the Southeast Asian Games.
Corteza, also the 2006 All Japan Championship ruler is runner-up behind eventual winner Chang Jung-lin of Taiwan in the inauguration leg in Jakarta, Indonesia last April 20-22 after beating countrymen Ronato Alcano in the quarters and Dennis Orcollo in the semis.
The BSCP did not field Corteza in the 2nd leg in Kaohsiung, Chinese-Taipei last May 18-20, and again in the fourth leg that ended last Sunday in Singapore. Instead, Coteza was made to play in the 3rd leg in Genting Highlands Resort in Malaysia last June 15-17 where he reached the quarter-final round.
Despite playing only two of four legs, Corteza, manage to climb in Rank to No.2 in RP ranking Guinness 9-Ball Tour Order of Merit by amassing a total 80 points, while tour over-all Pinoy leader Alcano had a total of 110 points.
The only ranking tour in Asia for this year's World Pool Championships was dominated by Taiwanese Chang Jung-lin (1 st and 3rd leg winner) and Yang Ching-shun (2 nd and 4th leg). The top 10 in Rank after the five-city leg will advance to the Grand Finale on August 31 to September 2 in Bali, Indonesia.


NBS ACE RICKY ZERNA RULES PUYAT 9-BALL TOUR

NEGROS BILLIARD STABLE (NBS) ace Ricky "Bai" Zerna bagged the top prize worth PHP60,000 after topping the just concluded 2007 Puyat Sports 9-Ball Tournament late Sunday at the Bowling Inn in Taft Avenue, Manila.
Down from 2-9, Zerna, who hails from Dumaguete City clustered nine straight racks to beat John "Ramram" Rebong (11-9) in the come from behind victory in the finals to capture the title in the 32 man-field event in the race-to-11, winner's break format.
The event was organized by Ish Caparras and Lando Vicente under the guidance of RP billiards patron Aristeo "Putch" Puyat in close cooperation with Bugsy promotion, aims to promote future world class players by opening the tournament to all Class "B" players in the country.
" Nagbunga din 'yung ginagawa naming pagsasanay nina coach Toper (Christoper Palses) at boss Jo (Jonathan Sy)." said Zerna, who is schedule to compete in the 2007 Cebu Open on July 26-29 at SM Mall in Cebu City.
Zerna, who is playing under the banner of Negros Billiard Stable (NBS) coach/manager Christopher "Toper" Palses and sportsman/ businessman Jonathan "Bacolod" Sy earlier beat veteran campaigner Jojo Santos (9-3) in the winner's brackets before losing to 2006 Sydney World Junior quarter-finalist Renemar "Revo" David (9-2) in the second round that put him in the loser's side.
In the one loss-side, Zerna needed to dispose of national women's team member Iris Ranola (9-3), Roberto Dy (9-7) and Napoleon Labrador (9-4) to face John "Ramram" Rebong (11-9), in the finals. Rebong is a prodigy of 2004 World 9-ball champion Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan.
Aside from Zerna, other member of the fast-growing Negros Billiard Stable (NBS) that seeing in action in the Puyat Sports 9-ball were Panfilo "Abu Lintok" Damuag, Jarry "Putol" Pelayo, Jech-Jech "Lemond" Lemen, Troy "Guwapito" Danao and Godofredo "Boy Cotabato" Ducanes. Reigning national open champion Lee Van "The Slayer" Corteza and 2006 US Open runner-up Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat are the top guns of NBS.
According to NBS coach/ manager Palses, NBS aims to produce World 9-ball champions from Visayas-Mindanao.
Currently, the country’s World 9-ball champions are all from Luzon headed by Efren "Bata" Reyes of Angeles City, Pampanga (1999 Cardiff), Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan of Cabagan, Isabela (2004 Taiwan) and Ronato "Volcano" Alcano of Calamba City, Laguna (2006 Philippines).

(REPORTS FROM MARLON BERNARDINO)