FILIPINO CORTEZA RUNNER-UP IN GUINNESS 9-BALL GRAND FINALS
LONE FILIPINO hopeful Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza failed to pocket another major tournament this year after losing to Taiwanese Chang Jung-lin, 11-8, in the Grand Finals of the Guinness 9-ball tour late Sunday at the Grand Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Bali, Indonesia.
The 28-year-old Corteza, top player of Negros Billiard Stable scratched while shooting for the orange five ball in the 19th rack that led Chang to run-out the game with an 11-8 victory.
In fact Chang dominated the entire match in this race-to-11, alternate break format. Chang was hot from the opening rack and took a 7-3 lead before Corteza managed to equalize at 7-all in the 14 th frame.
The 22-year-old Taiwanese, Chang was unheralded before the start of the Asian tour, received the championship trophy and the top prize US$36,000. Corteza, meanwhile settled for the runner-up prize of US$10,000.
Earlier, Corteza defeated 2005 World 9-ball champion Taiwanese Wu Chia-ching, 11-9, to arrange a titular showdown with Chang Jung-lin, a close 13-12 decision winner over compatriot Yang Ching-shun.
Actually, it was Wu who was ahead for most of the game but two scratched in the endgame allowing the Davao City born Corteza to progress. Tied at 9-all, the 18-year-old Wu suffered a scratch in the break in the 19th frame that put the 28-year-old Corteza, on the hill.
"Malaking factor 'yung dalawang scratch ni Wu (Wu Chia-ching) sa final canto," said NBS president Jonathan Sy, who traveled to Bali (Indonesia) to give moral support to his group’s prized fighter.
Corteza who used power break in the opener to take a 2-1 commanding lead shifted in the "soft break" in the 8th frame to close the match at 5-3 in favor of Wu.
"Si Ronnie (Alcano) ang nagsabi kay Van-Van (Corteza) na mag shift sa soft break," said Sy in another text message sent to this writer yesterday.
Meanwhile, Chang needed 3 hours and 30 minutes to beat Yang in the first TV telecast semi-final match yesterday afternoon.
First time Chang faced Corteza was in the finals of first leg of the Guinness Tour last April in Jakarta, where Chang also prevailed. Last Saturday, Corteza avenged his loss to Chang in Jakarta with a 9-3 win in their Group stage match.
FILIPINO GABICA SHOOTS FOR TOP PRIZE IN BRUNEI 9-BALL CROWN
CURRENT Doha Asian Games 9-ball gold medal winner and 8-ball silver-medallist Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica will try to extend the country's domination of the sport when he competes in the forthcoming Brunei 9-Ball Invitational Cup 2007 from Sept 7-8 at the Indoor Stadium in Berakas.
The 35-year-old Gabica, top player of star-studded Bugsy Promotion will leave the country on September 6 along with Bugsy stablemate double world champion Ronato "Volcano" Alcano to carry the country's color in the said annual 9-ball event which will feature some of the worlds best cue masters.
"I will try my best to bring honor to our country just like what I did before in last year's Doha Asian Games," said the Lapu-Lapu City native Gabica in Filipino, who is aiming to duplicate his first place finish in the 2007 Cebu 9-Ball Challenge this year.
Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) president Ernie Fajardo and local billiard benefactor Perry Mariano of Bugsy fully support Gabica and Alcano for the Brunei 9-ball Open.
"We hope Gaga (Gabica) and Ronnie (Alcano) will play very well in the upcoming Brunei 9-ball Open for the country's glory," said Fajardo.
"I'am very confident that Ronnie and Gaga will win the championship crown, kailangan lang ng dasal at pagtitiwala natin sa kanilang kapasidad," added Mariano.
The tournament is sanctioned by the Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU) and is organized by the Brunei Darussalam Cue Sports Association for the third time in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and sponsored by GHK Motors Sdn Bhd.
Other cue artist invited to play in this tournament are: Wu Chia Ching (2005 World 9-ball champion) and Chang Jung Ling (Guinness 9-ball tour leg winner) from Taiwan, Ibrahim Bin Amir from Malaysia (Thailand 9-Ball Open 2004 champion), Ricky Yang from Indonesia (Indonesia Open 2006 champion), Bernard Tey from Singapore and Luong Chi Dung (2005 Manila Southeast Asian Games 9-ball gold winner) from Vietnam.
Five players from Brunei will also be competing in the tournament consisting of candidates for the upcoming SEA Games in Thailand in December.
The grand prize is US$10,000, where US$5 000 goes to the runner-up, while US$1,500 goes to the semi-finalists and US$500 for the quarter-finalists.
"All cue enthusiasts should not miss the chance to see some of the top pool players in action in this prestigious tournament," according to a Brunei newspaper.
(Report from MARLON BERNARDINO)
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