FILIPINO Lee Vann Corteza weathered Taiwan's Yang Ching-shun's fiery comeback to escape with a 9-6 win in the Philippine Bigtime Billiards (PBB) Face-Off series Saturday night at the Airport Pagcor Casino in Paranaque City.
The top player of Negros Billiards Stable (NBS) Corteza took home the top prize worth $5,000. Yang, on the other hand, received $2,500.
After forcing a tie at 4, Yang, known in Chinese-Taipei as the “Son of Pool" made a scratch enabling Corteza to win the 9th rack. The Davao City native Corteza saw his big lead, 7-4, by winning another two straight rack and never looked back in the race-to-9, winner's break match jointly organized by the Mega Sports World and BRKHRD Corp and was aired live over Solar Sports, Sky Channel 70 and Destiny Channel 34 and also aired worldwide through the Internet, live streaming at www.starbilliards.com.ph,www.megasportsworld.com and www.philippinebigtimebilliards.com.
The PBB Face-Off is a joint undertaking of Mega Sports World and BRKHRD Corp., and organized in cooperation with Airport Casino Filipino, Crown Sound System Sakura Amplifiers and Home Theater Systems, Malungai Life Oil, Diamond Billiard table, Hermes Sports Bar, I-Bar, Golden Leaf Restaurant, Bugsy Promotions, Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) with The Philippine Star as official media partner.
“Luck played a part in my victory. Yang is a very tough opponent and I really had a hard time beating him,” said the two-time National Open champion Corteza, playing under the banner of Jonathan Sy's Negros Billiards Stable.
“I hope to play with him again as it’s really exciting going up against one of the world’s best cue artists.” added the former World Ten-Ball Finalist Corteza, whose stint in local and international competitions is supported by Kopiko and Energen.
Negros Billiards Stable head coach Christopher Palses commented after the match "Buti nag scratch si Yang sa 9th rack, yun ang turning point ni Van-Van (Lee Vann) sa pagkapanalo niya sa mahigpitan nilang laro ng Taiwanese cue master."
It shall be recalled that Corteza topped the 3rd Golden Break 9-Ball Invitational Championship 2011 last August at the Golden Break Snooker & Pool Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He also won 2011 San Miguel Beer Oktoberfest 9-ball Open in the Masters category at the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City last October.
Meanwhile, the PBB Face Off series resumes with a match pitting Yang against Dennis Orcollo on Dec. 10. After that, Chang Jung Lin of Chinese-Taipei battles Roberto Gomez on Dec.17, Chang takes on Alcano on Dec.23 and Wu Chai Ching of China battles Efren "Bata" Reyes on Dec.30. By: MARLON BERNARDINO
