Source: Olmin Leyba, Philippine Star
MANILA, Philippines - A free-for-all battle is expected as the world’s top cuemasters, including local aces led by Dennis Orcullo, slug it out for the crown in the Philippine Open Pool Championships beginning today at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.
Fresh from capturing the world 8-ball title and the Derby City Classic 9-ball crown, Orcullo seeks to add a 10-ball diadem to his trophy room in the 64-man main draw of the $175,000 event.
A slew of tough foreign rivals are out to foil the pool whiz from Bislig, Surigao del Sur, headed by 2009 World 10-ball king Mika Immonen of Finland and 2008 World Ten Ball champ Darren Appleton of Great Britain, who both have won major pool events here.
Out to provide more fierce challenge are former double world champions Ralf Souquet of Germany and Ronnie Alcano of the Philippines, former US Open titlist Shane van Boening of the United States, and defending Phl Open champ Ricky Yang of Malaysia.
“It will be really, really hard because all the top players are here,” said Orcullo, one of three gold medalists for Team Phl in last year’s Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
Immonen, a familiar face to Filipino fans, feels good about his chances for the $30,000 champion’s purse in the double-elims format tournament, a ranking event of the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA).
“I’m coming off a win in the Masters 10-ball Championship in Virginia and I feel I’m in top form. I’ll give it a good shot, especially since I have a very good record here (Philippines), having won four major tournaments,” Immonen said.
Souquet, for his part, looks for his breakthrough win in Manila. “I still haven’t won a tournament in the Philippines so yeah it’s on top of my list,” said the German ace who finished runner-up four times in previous outings in the country.
Also carrying the Phl flag are Antonio Lining, Jeff de Luna, Marlon Manalo, Lee Van Corteza Roberto Gomez and Ramil Gallego, among others. Interestingly absent is reigning world 9-ball champ and current world No. 1 Django Bustamante, who backed out at the last minute.
Gillian Go, Geona Christine Gregorio and Reggie Ann Biagcong will represent the Phl against a tough 32-player field led by World 10-Ball champ Jasmin Ouschan of Austria, defending World 9-Ball titlist Fu Xiao-Fang of China, and former Amway World 9-Ball champion and 2006 Asian Games 8-Ball women’s pool champion Lin Yuan Chun of Chinese Taipei.
The Philippine Open is organized and promoted by Raya Sports in cooperation with the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP). TV5 will broadcast the games via a block time slot in IBC-13, 2-7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 12-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 2-7 p.m. on Monday.
Source: Philippine Star
-- Lee Vann Corteza got back at American Rodney Morris, 11-7, to capture the Annual Hard Times-Mezz Cues 10-Ball Open crown at the Hard Times Billiards in Bellflower, Los Angeles, California Monday.
Corteza, who dropped an 8-9 setback to Morris in the sixth round of the winners’ side bracket, dominated early and took an 8-4 lead before cruising to the victory, his first major title in the year worth $4,000.
On his way to the race-to-11, winner’s break final, Corteza, the reigning national open champion, held off another American Max Eberle, 9-7.
With her earlier loss to Morris, Corteza worked his way back in contention in the losers’ side, beating Steve Chaplin, 9-0, Ismael Paez, 9-1, Stevie Moore, 9-1, and Corey Harper, 9-1.
He also subdued compatriot Warren Kiamco, 9-7, Oscar Dominguez, 9-5, and Max Eberle, 9-7, to arrange the title showdown with Morris.
Other Filipinos who saw action in the event were pool legend Efren “Bata” Reyes, Roberto Gomez, Ramon Mistica, Ambrosio Almoite, George Pagulayan, Jaynard Orque and Kiamco.
Meanwhile, Corteza will head the crack RP contingent in the Party Poker World Pool Masters slated May 12-16 and the inaugural US Open 10-Ball Championships on May 17-22 at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Source: GMA News
-- Great Britain frustrated the Philippines’ bid to win the first World Team Championship, posting a relatively easy 4-1 triumph in their championship showdown Sunday in Hannover, Germany (early Monday in Manila).
The Filipinos, among the foremost pool players in the world, actually got the head-start against the British as the pair of Dennis Orcollo and Warren Kiamco trampled Karl Boyles and 2007 world pool champ Darryl Peach in the opening 8-ball doubles, 6-1.
However, the British bets quickly equalized via Darren Appleton and Mark Gray’s 6-1 triumph over Ronnie Alcano and Marlon Manalo in the second 8-ball doubles then completely turned the tables around with a sweep of the next three sets.
Gray took only 45 minutes in disposing of Antonio Lining, 8-2, in the 9-ball singles before Boyes outclassed Lee Van Corteza in a closely-fought 9-ball singles duel, fighting back from a 6-7 deficit to eke out an 8-7 win.
Appleton, the 2009 World Pool Masters titlist, secured the title for Britain with a dominating 7-1 conquest of former world no. 1 Orcollo in the 10-ball competitions.
It was a sorry loss for the Filipinos, who looked quite invincible after winning all their previous assignments prior to the finale. The RP pool aces defeated Great Britain II, 4-0, and the Czech Republic, 4-1, in the first and second round then waylaid Norway (4-2 in the Last 16), Poland (4-2 in the quarterfinals) and Russia (4-1) to book a spot in the finals.
In contrast, the British had to go through the loser’s bracket after dropping a 2-4 loss to Sweden in the second round. Team Great Britain, though, drubbed Korea, 4-2, and Israel II, 4-0, in the loser’s side to advance into the knockout Last 16 stage and posted wins over Germany (4-0, Last 16), China (4-3, quarterfinals), and Greece (4-2, semis) for a finals slot.
Source: Marlon Bernardino, ABS-CBN News
-- Ronato “Ronnie” Alcano, known in the pool world as the “Volcano,” led Team Philippines into the finals of the World Team Pool Cup Championship in Hannover, Germany.
The Calamba, Laguna native won his crucial battle against Russian Ruslan Chinahov, 7-1, at Hall 13 of the Hannover Exhibition Grounds.
The former World 9-ball and 8-ball champion helped the Nationals score a 4-1 victory over Russia by defeating Chinahov in the semifinals of the 1st 10-ball game late Saturday.
This paved the way for the Philippine team to secure a berth in the finals where they will face Great Britain on Sunday (Manila time).
Bannered by reigning World 9-ball champion Daryl Peach and former World 10-ball champion Darren Appleton, Great Britain eliminated Greece, 4-2, in the other semifinal duel.
Alcano was unshaken by his loss in his previous outing where he teamed up with ex-snooker champion Marlon “Marvelous” Manalo. They lost in the 1st 8-ball Scotch doubles event, 3-6.
“Parang panggising 'yong talo namin ni Marlon sa 8-ball Scotch Doubles,” Alcano told Bugsy Promotions President Ceferino “Perry” Mariano over the phone.
“Hindi ka talaga puwedeng maging over confident sa ganito kalaking event. Kahit sino puwede kang talunin,” added Alcano, a former US Open 9-ball finalist.
“We expect a tough battle against Great Britain, but kumpiyansa ako na magbibigay ng magandang laban ang mga player natin,” Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) chairman Florentino “Yen” Makabenta said.
Mariano, founder of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP), added: “Bagama't nakauna ang Russia sa atin ay tiwala akong makakabawi tayo at eventually ay matatalo din natin sila sa mga susunod na event. Gaya ng naunang nasabi ni Yen (Makabenta), malalim ang bench natin at puro malalakas ang kalibre ng mga player natin.”
Negros Billiards Stable (NBS) president and co-founder of BMPAP Jonathan “Bacolod” Sy also noted: “Lalo nating dagdagan ang panalangin natin. Malaking karangalan sa bayan ang hatid nilang tagumpay.”
After the Filipinos’ loss in the 1st 8-ball Scotch doubles event, the pair of Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Warren “Warrior” Kiamco and former world No. 1 Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo rebounded with a 6-4 win to level at 1-1 in the race-to-4 semifinal.
Two-time BSCP National Pool Championships ruler Lee Van “The Slayer” Corteza and Japan-based Antonio “Nikoy” Lining made it to 3-1 for the Philippines with similar 6-4 victories over Roman Pruchai and Egor Plishkin, respectively.
Alcano then stepped up by beating Chinahov for a 4-1 total output for Team Philippines. Orcollo was leading 2-0 against Konstantin Stepanov in the second 10-ball game but it was halted after Alcano triumphed in the 1st 10-ball game.
On the road to the finals, the undefeated Filipinos nipped England II (4-0), Czech Republic (4-1), Norway (4-2), Poland (4-2) and Russia (4-1).
Great Britain, on the other hand, downed Norway (5-1), lost to Sweden (4-2), blanked Israel (4-0) and Germany (4-0), and then edged China (4-3) and Greece (4-2).
The 48-nation tournament, the first of its kind and sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA), stakes a total purse of $400,000. It uses a point-system scoring patterned after the Davis Cup event in international tennis where the champion team gets the lion’s share of $100,000 in the race-to-4 affair.
Source: GMA News
-- The Philippines entered the quarterfinal phase of the biggest world pool team event – the 1st World Team Championships in Hannover, Germany.
The Filipinos, showing their dominance in the 8-Ball event after both pairs won their respective matches, earned a spot in the Last 8 after a 4-2 win over Norway.
The duo of double world champion Ronnie Alcano and former Asian snooker king Marlon Manalo nipped their rivals, 6-5, while the pair of Lee Van Corteza and Warren Kiamco scored a 6-3 win in the other match.
In 9-Ball, Alcano breezed to an 8-2 triumph over Vegar Kristiansen while Dennis Orcullo, one of Bugsy Promotions’ top bets by businessman-sports patron Perry Mariano, coasted to a 7-1 win over Tommy Wolf in the 10-Ball event to seal the Filipinos’ win.
The Philippines joined Poland, Russia, Great Britain, China, Switzerland, Greece and Germany II in the next round.
"Great Britain and China are our toughest rivals," Mariano told GMANews.TV. “Pero maganda ang tsansa natin. Pwede tayong mag-champion eh (But we have a good chance of winning the crown)."
In other results, Poland swept a Finland team led by reigning World 10-Ball champion and world’s No.1 player Mika Immonen, 4-0; Russia defeated Denmark, 4-2; Great Britain blanked host Germany beefed up by world champions Ralf Souquet and Thorsten Hohmann, 4-0; China crushed Serbia, 4-1; Switzerland ousted Japan, 4-1; Greece nipped the United States, 4-3; and Germany II edged Sweden, 4-3.
Source: Marlon Bernardino, ABS-CBN News
-- Team Philippines is set to battle Norway for a quarter-final berth when the first-ever World Team Cup Championship resumes late Thursday (Manila time) at the Hall 13 Hannover Exhibition Grounds in Hannover, Germany.
The Nationals, led by former World no.1 Dennis Orcollo, WPA 9-ball and 8-ball ruler Ronato Alcano, 2-time National Pool champion Lee Vann Corteza, former snooker champ Marlon Manalo, Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Warren Kiamco, and Japan-based Antonio Lining, got a much needed rest on Wednesday after posting back-to-back victories in the first two rounds over Great Britain II (4-0) and Czech Republic (4-1).
Team Norway, composed of Malvin Bjelland, Vegar Kristiansen, Mats Schjetne and Tommy Wolff, is coming off a win over Iran, 4-1.
They lost their preliminary round match to Great Britain, 5-1, then bounced back to contention by eliminating Aruba, 4-2, in the loser’s brackets.
“If Nationals play correctly, I’m pretty confident they can beat Norway. Huwag lamang silang magiging over confident,” said Bugsy Promotions President Ceferino “Perry” Mariano.
The RP squad is backed up by the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP), Raya Sports, Bugsy Promotions and Negros Billiards Stable (NBS).
“Mahalaga makauna agad sila, cumulative kasi ang score sa tatlong disciplines (9-ball, 8-ball Scotch doubles and 10-ball),” said NBS.
“It’s now win or go home,” said BSCP chairman Florentino “Yen” Makabenta.
The Nationals are now assured of $10,000 (roughly P470,000) for making it to the “Sweet 16”.
The 48-nation tournament, the first of its kind and sanctioned by the World Pool Billiard Association (WPA), has a total purse of $400,000 (roughly P19.2 million) and uses a point-system scoring patterned after the famous Davis Cup of international tennis. The champion team will get $100,000 (roughly P4.7 million).
Source: ABS-CBN News
-- Ready and confident.
That was how RP pool team manager Edgar "Malabon" Acaba described the condition of the 6-man Philippine team that left the country Thursday to participate in the inaugural World Team Cup Championship in Hannover, Germany.
“I see our team being installed among the Top 10 favored teams in the tournament,” said Acaba, vice president of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP).
The RP team left Manila at 11:30am via KLM Airlines for the tournament which will take place from January 30 to February 7 at Hall 13 in the Hannover Exhibition Grounds, Hannover.
“Our team will be composed of six players, who have played impressively in the World Ten Ball Championship, the Philippine National Championship and other international tournaments,” said Acaba.
The team is composed of 2-time national pool titlist Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza, WPA 9-ball and 8-ball champion Ronato “Volcano” Alcano, former World No. 1 Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo, former Asian Snooker champion Marlon “Marvelous” Manalo, Villar Cup champion Warren Kiamco and Japan champion Antonio “Nikoy” Lining.
The team is backed by BSCP under the leadership of its president Sebastian “Baste” Chua and chairman Florentino “Yen” Makabenta.
They will play in a tough, point-system tournament patterned after the famous Davis Cup in international tennis.
“Germany, England, the United States, Japan, Chinese Taipei and China are touted as the favorites, but the teams of Mika Immonen [Finland], Marcus Chamat [Sweden] and Neils Feijen [Netherlands] may not get the support they need to make their teams more formidable,” said Acaba.
Teams will compete in three disciplines: 8-Ball, 9-Ball and 10-Ball. The 8-Ball will be played in a Double Scotch format and bears two points for every team. The 9-Ball and 10-Ball will have a point each.
Added attraction in the $400,000 total pot prize tournament is the participation of “Prince of Brunei”, Al Muhtadee Billah in the 200 player event.
Source: gmanews.tv
-- Lee Van Corteza can patiently wait in his dream to become a world champion. But he made winning the national championship a habit.
Corteza beat virtual unknown Edgie Geronimo, 11-6, to recapture the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines- Philippine National Championship recently at the Star Billiards Center.
t was the second RP diadem in three years for Corteza, who came tantalizingly close to a world title this year.
Corteza, the top-rated Filipino player in the world rankings (No. 4) after placing second behind Mika Immonen of Finland in the recent second World Ten Ball Championship at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, had to go through the final round the hard way as he was pitted against former world No.1 player Dennis Orcullo.
Geronimo, a surprise finalist, advanced into the championship round after outlasting veteran counterpart Victor Arpilleda, 9-7.
The semis duel between Corteza and Orcullo had the making of a blockbuster championship showdown. The two engaged in a see-saw encounter after 14 racks, until the Corteza, the 2007 National Open champion, took the last two racks to secure his place in the final round.
The other semis pair took the same route with Geronimo showing nerves of steel against his more experienced rival.
But the race-to-11 finals proved to be anti-climatic as Corteza didn’t let up and quickly took the rhythm out of Geronimo en route to winning the top prize of P100,000, the champion’s trophy, and the Predator cue bonus prize. Geronimo took home P50,000.
“Mahirap yung laban kay Dennis (Orcullo)," said Corteza, who will be among six players representing the country in the first-ever World Team Championship in Hannover, Germany from Jan. 30-Feb.7 “Pero noong natalo ko na siya, medyo nakahinga ako ng maluwag at naging kumpiyansa.(going into the finals)."
Source: Marlon Bernardino, abs-cbnnews.com,
-- Lee Van “The Slayer” Corteza and Zemonette Oryan emerged victorious in the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) 4th National Pool Championship.
Corteza nipped Rodrigo “Edgie Marilao” Geronimo, 11-6, in the finals at the Star Billiards Center in Grace Village, Quezon City on Tuesday.
Prior to the finals match, Corteza subdued reigning Predator International 10-ball champion Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo, 9-7, in the semifinals.
The Davao City native Corteza took home the top purse of P100,000 in the men’s division of the event held from December 20 to 22.
“I would like to dedicate my victory to boss Jo [Jonathan Sy], coach Toper [Christoper Palses], to my family and to God,” remarked Corteza, who is also the 2007 BSCP champion.
Corteza started his BSCP bid in a wrong foot after losing his first round match to Elmer Haya, 8-9.
He, however, bounced back from the loser's bracket and scored 11 straight wins to secure this year’s BSCP title.
He beat 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; Cebuano Marvin Tapia, 9-4; Orcollo in the final four and Geronimo in the finals.
Zemonette Oryan, on the other hand, turned back Floriza Andal of Laguna, 9-7, and Mica Claveria of Bacolod City, 9-5, to emerge as the back-to-back winner of the women’s division.
Oryan, who hails from Iloilo City, went home with P15,000. She bagged her first BSCP title in 2008.
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..
Source: Marlon Bernardino, abs-cbnnews.com
-- Lee Vann Corteza and Shanelle Loraine combined forces to score a 7-3 victory over Team Europe’s Mika Immonen and Borana Andoni for third place in the 2009 World Mixed Doubles Classic at the Nuvo City Lifestyle Center in Libis, Quezon City Thursday.
Corteza and Loraine, who made up Team Philippines B, will take the $2,000 purse for securing third place.
“Kahit paano third place tayo,” said Corteza, who lost to Immonen in the finals of World Ten Ball Championships.
The Nationals had a relatively easy run, racing a 2-0 to 4-2 lead in the event presented by Nuvo Land Philippines, Inc. and Dragon Promotions and supported by Puyat Sports, ABS-CBN Sports, ESPN-Star Sports and the Philippine Star.
Team Philippines A of Efren “Bata” Reyes and Rubilen “Bingkay” Amit is currently battling Team Korea of Charlie Williams and Eun Ji Park for first place plus $6,000 prize.
Both teams are already guaranteed $3,000 for reaching the finals.
Source: abs-cbnnews.com
-- World Ten Ball champ Mika Immonen combined with Borana Andoni as Team Europe beat Japan in the opener of the 2009 World Mixed Doubles Classic Tuesday at the Nuvo City Lifestyle Center in Libis, Quezon City.
Team Europe outscored Japanese duo Hayato Hijikata and Kaori Ebe, 7-5, extending Immonen’s streak in international tournaments.
The Fin had just defeated RP’s Lee Vann Corteza in the final of the World Ten Ball Championship Monday night.
Immonen also won his second straight US Open title last month.
“I just felt like I can win every match I play,” he said.
His success rubbed off to his playing partner.
“Mika’s winning habit is contagious,” said Andoni, who hails from Albania.
But Team Japan didn’t go down without a fight. They actually took control of the match early and had several chances to pull off an upset in the event presented by Nuvo Land Philippines, Inc. and Dragon Promotions.
After racing to a 5-3 lead, the Japanese had two chances to reach the hill. But Ebe and Hijikata took turns in missing easy shots late in the racks.
Ebe missed a tough-angled shot on the nine-ball to let Immonen and Andoni equalize on the 10th rack while Hijikata’s shot on the 10-ball rattled out on the 11th.
The six teams in the $12,000 event supported by Puyat Sports, ABS-CBN Sports, ESPN-Star Sports and Philippine Star are divided into two groups.
Team Philippines “A” of Efren “Bata” Reyes and Rubilen Amit, Team Europe and Team Japan composed Group A while Team Philippines “B” of Corteza and Fil-Am Shanelle Loraine, Team Korea of Charlie Williams and Eunji Park and Team USA of Shane Van Boening and Amy Chen comprised Group B.
The top teams after a group round robin will dispute the title and the top prize of $6,000 on Thursday.
Source: philstar.com
-- Pool icon Efren “Bata” Reyes and multiple Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Lee Vann Corteza team up with their lady counterparts as they begin their quest in the 2009 World Mixed Doubles Classic today at the Nuvo City Lifestyle Center, C5 corner Calle Industria in Libis, Quezon City.
Reyes will partner with women’s World 10-ball champion Rubilen Amit for the Team Philippines A while Corteza and Fil-Am stunner Shanelle Loraine will spearhead Team Philippines B’s campaign in the six-team event.
The 10-ball tournament, produced by Dragon Promotions, will be telecast live on ESPN Star Sports and ABS-CBN throughout Asia and the Philippines.
Other teams seeing action in the tournament, held in cooperation with Puyat Sports, headed by Aristeo “Putch” Puyat, are Team USA, Team Europe, Team Japan and Team Korea.
Shane Van Boening and Amy Chen banner Team USA while newly crowned World 10-Ball champion Mika Immonen and Borana Andoni will spearhead Team Europe’s title drive.
Team Japan is composed of Hayato Hijikata and Kaori Ebe while Charlie Williams and Eun Ji Park make up Team Korea.
