Source: Marlon Bernardino, abs-cbnnews.com
-- Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza leaned on a strong start to repulse 2009 Predator International 10-Ball Champion Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo, 9-7, on Tuesday to advance to the final round of the 4th BSCP National Championships at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City.
The Davao City native Corteza of Jonathan Sy's Negros Billiard Stable will battle Bugsy Promotion bet Rodrigo "Edgie Marilao" Geronimo in the finals.
Geronimo edged former Southeast Asian Games 9-ball gold medallist Victory Arpilleda, 9-7, in their semifinals duel.
"I was lucky I was able to lead early, it’s tiring to make ground when you are too far behind", said Corteza, who lost to Mika "The Iceman" Immonen of Finland in the finals of this year's World Ten Ball Championships last month at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
Corteza, multiple Southeast Asian Games gold medallist, jumped off to a 7-3 start and was threatened going to the final canto after Orcollo, prize fighter of Perry Mariano's Bugsy Promotions, clustered 4 straight racks to tie the match at 7-all in this race-to-9 affair.
However, Corteza prevented what could have been an all-Bugsy Promotions final.
On the road to the finals, Corteza started on the wrong foot after losing his first round match to NBS stablemate Elmer Haya, 8-9.
Corteza, however, came back from the loser's bracket, beating William Millares, 9-1; Romeo del Rosario, 9-4; Oliver Villafuerte, 9-7; Godofredo Ducanes, 9-4; Elmer Haya via default; Roland dela Cruz, 9-6; John Salazar, 9-7; Roberto Gomez, 9-8 and Cebuano Marvin Tapia, 9-4, to face Orcollo in the final four.
Geronimo, meanwhile, won his first round match against Jech Limen, 9-6, but bowed to defending champion Marlon Manalo, 6-9, in the second round.
He came back through the loser's side by beating Jomel Sultan, 9-6; Leonardo Didal, 9-5; Elmer Haya, 9-5; Mario Tolentino, 9-5; Benjie Guevarra, 9-7; Michael Feliciano, 9-6; Rocky Tullao, 9-6; Ronato Alcano, 9-6; and Carlo Biado, 9-6, to meet Arpilleda in other semifinal duel.
In the women's divisions, 2008 champion Zemonnette Oryan of Iloilo City and Mica Claveria of NBS hurdle their respective rivals to face each other in the finals late Tuesday.
Oryan, the 2008 Reno WPA World Junior for girls bronze medallist, subdued Floriza Andal of Laguna, 9-7, while Claveria from Bacolod City stamped her class with another 9-7 triumph over Jingle David of Pasay City.
The champion in the mens division will bring home P100,000 while the winner in the women’s play will get P15,000 in this three-day event (December 20 to 22), hosted by long-time billiards patron Sebastian "Baste" Chua in close cooperation with Raya Sports. The tournament is also backed by Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr..
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
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