Corteza rules China 9-ball Open

By: Marlon Bernardino

Filipino Lee Vann Corteza mastered Taiwanese Fu Che-wei, 11-6, to pocket the 2013 China 9-Ball Open crown at the Shanghai Pudong Yuanshen Stadium arena in Shanghai, China on Sunday.

Corteza, a former two-time National Open champion bagged the $40,000 purse while Fu settled for $20,000.

Corteza marched to the finals after beating Omar Al-Shaheen of Kuwait, 11-3, in the semifinals while Fu trounced Wu Jiaqing of China, 11-8,  in the other semis encounter.

China 9-Ball Open: Pagulayan reach pool KO stage

Alex "the Lion" Pagulayan moved on to the last-32 stage of the 2013 China 9-Ball Open at the Shanghai Pudong Yuanshen Stadium arena in Shanghai, China.

The top player of Puyat Sports Pagulayan, the 2004 WPC champ, defeated Kenny Kwok of Hongkong, 9-5, and led the march to the knockout stages.

Also advancing to the next stage are Ryu Seungwoo of Korea, who brought down Ke Bign Zhong of Chinese-Taipei; Salah Alriwani of the United Arab Emirates, who subdued Nguyen Ann Tuan of Vietnam, 9-5; Fu Che Wei of Chinese-Taipei, who dealt Dang Jinhu of China, 9-2; Li Hewen of China, who nipped John Morra of Canada and Afrinneza Isral Nasution of India, who edged Jeffrey de Luna of the Philippines, 9-8.

Other notable cue masters seeing action in the China meet are Dennis Orcollo, Carlo Biado, Lee Van Corteza, Johann Gonzales Chua and Rubilen Amit for the distaff side.                                             
  - Marlon Bernardino-

Filipino Lee Van Corteza scores back-to-back wins in China 9-Ball Open

Filipino Lee Van Corteza scored back-to-back wins in the 2013 China 9-Ball Open in Shanghai, China.

His latest victory was against Naoyuki Oi of Japan, 9-3, in Group G. The Davao City native Corteza, earlier beat Marcus Chamat of Sweden, 9-5, in the first round. His next opponent against Cheng Chieh Liu of Chinese-Taipei, who brought downed compatriots Ying Chieh Chen, 9-6, and Fu Che-wei, 9-7, respectively.

Also with two wins were Kenny Kwok of Singapore and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany in Group A; Chang Jung-lin and Lu Hui Chan of Chinese-Taipei in Group B; Liu Wei and Wang Can of China in Group C; Yukio Akagariyama of Japan and Fu Jian Bo of China in Group D; Nick Ekonomopoulous of Greece and Dang Jin Hu of China in Group E and Jason Klatt of Canada and Yang Ching-shun of Chinese-Taipei in Group F.

In other Filipino results, Alex Pagulayan beat Carlo Biado, 9-7, but bowed to Dang Jin Hu, 9-4, in the next round in Group E. Dennis Orcollo was yielded to Andreas Gerwen of Luxembourg, 9-8, but bounced back in contention after edging Nick van den berg of the Netherlands, 9-7, in Group F.

Biado will meet Ko pin-yi of Chinese-Taipei, who lost to Nick Ekonomopoulous, 9-3. Ko, earlier beat Mike Dechaine of the USA, 9-2. Pagulayan, meantime goes up against Hus Kai Lun of Chinese-taipei while Orcollo versus Wang Ming of China.

Iris Ranola subdued Jiang Teng, 7-2, in the first match but was succumbed to Chen Siming and Charlene Chai Huey, in similar ,7-4, loses in Group H. However, countryman Rubilen Amit lost her first match to Wu Zhi Ting, 7-5, and prevailed her second match to Wei-Tzu-Chien, 7-2, in Group A.    -Marlon Bernardino

Bustamante, Orcollo top money list

Filipinos Francisco Bustamante and Dennis Orcollo dominated the latest 2013 Player Money List, which also includes two other Pinoys in the Top 11.

According to the AZbilliards.com report, the 49-year-old Tarlac City pride Bustamante, one of the top player of sportsman/businessman Aristeo "Putch" Puyat, had total earnings of $45,893 and remained on top.

Bustamante, dubbed as "Django" in the world of pool won the 2013 Derby City Classic Master of the Table in Horseshoe Casino and Hotel Elizabeth, Indiana last January 25 to February 2 to received the top prize of $20,000. He also topped the 2013 Derby City Classic Bank Division enroute the champion's purse of $10,000. He bested Justin Hall of the USA in the finals. Bustamante settled for runner-up place with eventual champion Corey Deuel of the USA in the 2013 Derby City Classic One Pocket Division. Deuel pocketed the top prize of $12,000 while Bustamante went home runner-up purse of $6,000.

The top player of Puyat Sports Bustamante also won the 4th Annual Chet Itow Memorial last March 9 - 10 at the California Billiard Club in Mountain View, California and 4th Annual White Diamond Super 9-Ball last March 16 - 17 at the White Diamond Billiards in Lafayette, Los Angeles, California.

 However, the biggest pool money earner is the 34-year-old Bislig, Surigao del Sur native Orcollo, who climbed at No.2 spot with $34,300 after winning the 2013 Derby City Classic Bigfoot 10-Ball Challenge in Horseshoe Casino and Hotel Elizabeth, Indiana last January 25 to February 2 to enroute the top prize of $20,000. Orcollo, whose local and international stint supported by Boss Tapa Restaurant in Timog, Quezon City settled for second place in the 2013 Derby City Classic 14.1 for $1,500.

Orcollo, top player of Perry Mariano's Bugsy Promotions International also won the Jay Swanson Memorial last February 23 to 24 in Hard Times Billiards in Bellflower, California, US Bar Box Championship Men's 10-Ball last February 25 - 27 in

Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, Nevada and second place in the US Bar Box Championship Men's 9-Ball.

Orcollo, a gold medalist in the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games and 2011 Palembang Southeast Asian Games, takes part in the men’s 9-Ball and 8-Ball events of the quadrennial meet will be representing the country in the prestigious 2013 World Games billiards competition scheduled on July 25 to August 4 in Cali, Colombia.

Third in the money list is Great Britain's Kelly Fisher with $34,000 after winning the 2013 Amway eSpring Women's World 9-Ball Open last March 14 - 17 in Taiwan, followed by American Shane Van Boening with $29,285 and Filipino-Canadian Alex Pagulayan with $22,150.

At 6th and 7th spots are Deuel and Austria's Jasmin Ouschan with $17,250 and $15,000 worth of winnings , respectively. 

Rounding up to the top 11 are Niels "The Terminator" Feijen of the Netherlands ($14,695), Thorsten Hohmann of Germany ($12,295), Ga-Young Kim of South Korea ($11,300) and Filipino Ronato Alcano ($11,125). Warren Kiamco, the pride of Pasil, Cebu at No.17 with $8,167.Kiamco won the Midwest 9-Ball Tour Stop last February 16 - 17 in Shooters Billiards in Olathe, Kansas, USA.

Bustamante, Orcollo, Pagulayan, Alcano and Kiamco are members of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) headed by it's Founding Chairman Isaac Belmonte of the Philippine Star.  -Marlon Bernardino-

Boss Tapa support Orcollo, Biado's China 9-Ball Open campaign

FILIPINO cue masters Dennis Orcollo and Carlo Biado will lead the Filipino invasion in the China Open on May 12 to 19 in Shanghai, China.

Orcollo and Biado whose stint here supported by Boss Tapa are playing under the banner of sportsman/businessman Ceferino "Perry" Mariano of Bugsy Promotions.

"I won’t let the chance and support being given to me by Sir Perry (Mariano) and Ma’am Verna (Mariano) go to waste in this tough event," said Orcollo, an 11-9 winner over Taiwanese Lu Hui Chan to win the China Open 9 Ball in Shanghai in last year's edition.

"I’ll do my best to win the 9-ball title." he added.

Meanwhile, Philippine Billiards program just got a major boost after the management of Boss Tapa, the country's newest Filipino restaurant promised to support it. Aside from helping Orcollo and Biado's oversees campaign, Boss Tapa is also schedule to stage a billiards tournament in the country.

"We would like to thank the management of Boss Tapa for supporting Philippine Billiards," last word of Orcollo, currently world no.2 in the latest World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) ranking list.-Marlon Bernardino-

Django continues to win pool tournaments in the United States

Filipino pool legend Francisco 'Django' Bustamante added another crown to his already huge collection after grabbing the title in the just ended 4th Annual Chet Itow Memorial last March 9 to 10 at the California Billiard Club Mountain View, California, USA.

The top player of sportsman/businessman Aristeo "Putch" Puyat of Puyat Sports bested Scotland's Jayson Shaw in the finals to finished undefeated in the 109 player's field. The 49-year-old Tarlac native started playing billiards seriously when he was 12 years old, went home the top prize of $US 2,500 while Shaw pocketed the runner-up purse of $US 1,600.

"Shaw opened the potential double-set finals with two quick racks; he and Bustamante both playing as though they were late for a bus. Bustamante got on the board, and Shaw took advantage of an unforced error to regain his two-rack lead. Bustamante used a carom shot to drop the 9-ball early in the fifth rack, and pull back within one, but he made another unforced error in the sixth rack to return the two-game lead to Shaw at 4-2.

Shaw didn't know it as the balls spread out in rack seven, but it was over. Bustamante put together a title-earning six-pack that included a 3-9 bank combination that finished it, in less than 45 minutes." according toAZBilliards.com report yesterday.

Santos "The Saint" Sambajon finished in tie for 7th to 8th place with American Bobby Alexander while Ronato "Volcano" Alcano and Deomark Alpajora was landed at 9th to 12th placer. Warren "Warrior" Kiamco and Ray Campana joined 13th to 16th placer.

Bustamante, Alcano and Kiamco are members of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).      -Marlon Bernardino-

BMPAP BET DENNIS ORCOLLO WINS AGAIN IN US POOL CIRCUIT

FILIPINO Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo cemented his status as one of the Philippines' elite sportsmen by topping Scotland's Jayson Shaw, 13-3, in the final to win the 17th Jay Swanson Memorial 9 Ball Tournament was held at Hard Times Billiards in Bellflower, Los Angeles, California on Friday (Thursday night in US Time). 

With his latest feat, Orcollo, top player of Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) received the champion's purse of $3,000 while Shaw pocketed the runner-up purse of $1,500. Rodney "The Rocket" Morris settled $1,000 for third place.

"Dennis (Orcollo) is now dedicated and dependable Pinoy cue artist. Without him we have already lost our dominance in the sports of billiards," said long-time benefactor sportsman/businessman Ceferino "Perry" Mariano, top honcho of Bugsy International Promotions.

Orcollo found his way to the hot seat match by beating Oscar Domniguez of Mexico and Morris.He bested Shaw in the hot seat match to advance in the final. Shaw arranged a rematch with Orcollo by crushing Morris for the last final berth.

"I want to show through my actions that athletic excellence can be achieved with dedication, hard work and support," said Orcollo, the 2011 PSA Athlete of the Year and a 2011 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist.

It is the third major title of the year for the Surigaonon, who in January 25 to February 2, won the 2013 Derby City Classic Bigfoot 10-Ball Challenge at the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel

Elizabeth, Indiana, when he beat Niels "The Terminator" Feijen of the Netherlands in the final for the top prize of $20,000 and the 2013 US Bar Table Championships Men's 10-Ball at the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino in Reno, Nevada last February 25 when he toppled American Corey Deuel for the 1st prize of $4,550. Orcollo will be representing the country in the 2013 World Games billiards competition scheduled on July 25 to August 4 in Cali , Colombia. -Marlon Bernardino-