Source: GMA News
-- Rubilen Amit, the reigning titlist of the Women’s World 10-Ball event, is back in championship form.
A day after struggling at the start of her title retention bid, the Filipina pool sensation rediscovered her vicious form and scored an easy 6-1 triumph over compatriot Ana Tulauan Tuesday at the Nuvo City in Libis, Quezon City.
Amit capitalized on her inexperienced rival’s series of blunders to shatter a 1-all deadlock and come up with consecutive game close-outs in the next five racks. The win shoved the reigning champion closer to the Round-of-24.
Despite the victory, Amit admitted that she felt the pressure even after beating Angel Paglia, 6-3, on Monday in front of a big audience.
In that contest, the 29-year-old accountancy graduate from the University of Santo Tomas started strong, but made several miscues midway until the latter part of the match before pulling off a win.
"Even though I'm playing in a non-TV table, I'm still pressured. But then I'm more relaxed now than yesterday," said Amit, who prior to this tourney placed fifth in the China Open held three weeks ago in Shanghai.
Amit claimed the first rack, but Tulauan, a 22-year-old upstart from Manila who began to play competitive pool three years ago, tied the game in the next rack.
But the pressure of a big-time tournament took its toll on Tulauan. She missed several easy shots, allowing Amit to take advantage.
Amit, who is now 2-0 in Group A, is the only unbeaten Filipina player.
Iris Ranola, one of the country’s best bets, suffered a stinging 4-6 setback at the hands of Spanish player Amalia Matas.
Ranola fell behind most of the way. She dropped the first two racks and found herself teetering on the brink of defeat, 2-5.
Ranola made a last-ditch stand to try to win via the backdoor after claiming the next two racks and threatened to within 4-5, but Matas was able to close it out in the 10th rack to hand the former National Pool champion her first loss after three games.
Ranola fell to 2-1 for second spot behind Korean Yu Ram Cha, who won her second straight match when she came back from three racks down to beat Miyuki Fuke of Japan, 6-5.
Cha, one of the attractions of this event, trailed 2-5, but came back strong in the next three racks to set up an exciting windup.
The charming Korean cue artist pounced on Fuke’s miscues in the down-the-wire encounter and held steadier in the stretch to complete the come-from-behind win.
Fil-American Shanelle Loraine of Guam, also an instant attraction in this event, suffered her third straight defeat Tuesday. She lost to Tamara Radermakers of the Netherlands, 6-3.
But Ga Young Kim, one of the top-rated lady players, failed to join Amit and Cha in the list of unbeaten players when she lost, 5-6, to Han Yu of China. It was her first defeat after three matches.
It was actually the second match of the day for Kim, who beat American Julie Kelly, 6-3, in an afternoon match in Libis. She proceeded to Robinsons Galeria in Ortigas for her match with Yu.
Yu, who is already assured of a spot in the Round-of-24 with her 4-0 record, was trailing 3-5, but came back to win the final three racks and beat Kim.
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.
