CORTEZA WINS NY 9-BALL TILT

FILIPINO CORTEZA WINS NEW YORK 9-BALL TOUR; EARNS US$8,000

FILIPINO Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza turned back American Louie Ulrich 13-7, in the finals to win the top prize US$8,000 yesterday morning in the just concluded IX Turning Stone 9-Ball Tournament at the Turning Stone and Casino in Verona, New York.
Ulrich, top player of San Diego, California took US$5,300 for second place. Another Filipino, Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo, wound up in third place and got US$3,800.

The 28-year-old Corteza, top player of Negros Billiard Stable (NBS) came out firing and cruised to a 12-2 lead over Ulrich. A scratch on the break by Corteza let Ulrich back into the game by running five straight racks to narrow the margin to five games at 12-7. Then it was Ulrich whose break deserted him as he came up dry. That was Ulrich's last shot as Corteza ran the last rack for the 13-7 win.

""Sabi sa akin ni Van-Van (Corteza) ay nakauna agad siya sa kanong nakalaban sa finals (Louie Ulrich) kaya hindi niya na pinakawalan ang pagkakataon na maiuwi ang titulo." Said Negros Billiard Stable (NBS) coach/ manager Christopher Palses yesterday.

Earlier, the native of Davao City Corteza trounced Redgie Cutler 9 – 6, Holden Chin 9 – 1, Mike Dechaine 9 – 6, Tony Chohan 9 – 3 and Tony Robles 9 – 2, before losing to compatriot Orcollo 9 – 6 in the sixth round of winner's brackets that put him in the loser's brackets.

Then Corteza beat Niels Feijen of the Netherlands 9 – 3, Ralf Souquet of Germany 9 – 5 and a rematch with Orcollo 9 – 2 to arrange a titular showdown with undefeated Ulrich and curve a 13 – 7 victory.

Meanwhile, the 28-year-old Orcollo, who lost to Ulrich 9-6 in the hot seat matche was booted out of this 128 player field after suffering his second loss to Corteza 9-2 in their rematch in the one-loss side that lasted twenty two minutes.

Other Filipinos who participated in this tournament were current double world champion Ronato Alcano, Jose "Amang" Parica, Al Lapena and Mhet Vergarra.
Corteza, is fresh from a runner-up finish to Feijen in the US$50,000 winner-take all International Challenge of Champion in Uncasville, Connecticut, USA. Last August 10-12.

(Report from MARLON BERNARDINO)