Corteza eyes World Pool Crown in 2012

Filipino cue artist Lee Vann Corteza wants to win the WPA World Crown in 2012 and join an elite group of Filipino world champions.

"Target kong makopo ang WPA World Crown (8-ball, 9-ball and 10-ball) para makasama ko yung mga Filipino world champion," Corteza said.

Among the Filipinos who have won the WPA World Crown are Efren "Bata" Reyes, Francisco "Django" Bustamante, Alex Pagulayan, Dennis Orcollo, Ronato Alcano and Rubilen "Bingkay" Amit.

"Yung na lang talaga ang kulang ni (Corteza), ang World Championship crown," said Christopher Palses, Corteza's head coach at the Negros Billiards Stable.

A 2-time National Open champion, Corteza hopes to continue his winning run in 2012 when he competes in the Derby City Classic in Kentuky in January, the World 8-Ball Championship in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates in February and the Japan Open in March.

Last 2011, Corteza defeated a number of high-caliber opponents, including compatriot and world number 1 Dennis Orcollo. He racked up 4 major titles in the last 5 months.

Corteza won the 2011 Golden Brea 9-Ball Asian Invitational Championship in Malaysia last August, the San Miguel Beer Oktoberfest 9-Ball Open Masters in October, the Philippine Bigtime Billiards Face-Off and the Manny Pacquiao International 10-Ball Championships, both in December.

Corteza also won the US Open 10-Ball Championship in 2010, which he considers as the greatest achievement of his career.

source by Marlon Bernardino, abs-cbnNEWS.com

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Corteza rules Pacman 10-ball, halts Orcollo

Lee Vann Corteza mastered world No. 1 Dennis Orcollo, 11-7, to pocket the Manny Pacquiao International 10-ball crown at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City last Sunday.

Corteza, a former two-time National Open champion, gained the upper-hand early and held on to thwart the fancied Orcollo and bank the top $30,000 purse in the event put up by the Filipino boxing icon.

Orcollo settled for $10,000.

Corteza marched to the finals after beating 2007 Manny Pacquiao 9-ball champion Jeffrey de Luna, 11-6, in the semifinals while Orcollo trounced unheralded Jeffrey Diaz, 11-7, in the other semis encounter.

It was Corteza’s second straight win over Orcollo as he also beat the latter, 11-8, in the Masters category finals in the San Miguel Beer Oktoberfest 9-ball Open at Resorts World Manila last month.

“I’m very happy and proud to win this tournament,” said Corteza.

Corteza earlier disposed of 2007 World Pool Championship finalist Roberto Gomez, 9-6, to arrange a final four showdown with De Luna while Orcollo edged Jundel Mazon, 9-7, to face Diaz.

The winner of the tournament was supposed to play Pacquiao in an exhibition match, but the boxing superstar, who also celebrated his 33rd birthday in grand fashion in General Santos City, also last Saturday, failed to make it.

source by The Philippine Star

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Corteza, 3 others remain unbeaten in Pacquiao billiards tilt

Four Filipino billiard masters extended their winning streak in the Manny Pacquiao International 10-Ball Championship Thursday at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City.

Former 2-time National Open champion Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, former Pacquiao 9-Ball ruler Jeffrey "The Bull" de Luna, 2010 World Series Guinness kingpin Jundel "Jano" Mazon and unheralded Jeffrey Diaz toyed their foes.

Corteza beat snooker ace Benjie Guevarra, 9-7, while De Luna blasted Ricky “d Kid” Puro, 9-4.

Mazon defeated Antonio "Nickoy" Lining, 9-5, and Diaz upset 2007 World Pool finalist Roberto "Pinoy Superman" Gomez, 9-4.

"Medyo sinusuwerte pa din dahil hindi tayo bumibitaw hanggang sa bandang huli," said Corteza.

In the loser’s side, World No.1 Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo also survived his dangerous opponents.

Orcollo defeated Jech Limen, 9-7, and Warren Kiamco, 9-5, respectively in the $60,000-prize tournament sponsored by boxing superstar and Sarangani Cong. Manny Pacquiao.

The event is hosted by long-time billiards patron Sebastian "Baste" Chua and supervised by Edgar "Malabon" Acaba with the champion getting the lion share of $10,000. –

souce by Marlon Bernardino abs-cbnNEWS.com

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Orcollo vows to get back at Taiwanese ace

MANILA, Philippines - Dennis Orcollo tries to exact revenge against Taiwanese Yang Ching-shun as they clash in the Philippine Bigtime Billiards Face-Off series Saturday at Airport Pagcor Casino in Parañaque.

Yang humbled Orcollo in a marathon race-to-60 match in 2007 at Gateway then repeated the feat with a 50-45 victory in 2009.

“I’m happy that Yang accepted my challenge for a rematch as I really want to avenge my loss against him the last time,” said Orcollo, named the 2011 Player of the Year by the World Pool and Billiard Association (WPA).

“I will do my best to win this time and I’m confident that it’s me who will emerge the winner,” added the reigning SEA Games 8-ball gold medalist.

The race-to-9, 10-ball duel, organized by the Mega Sports World and BRKHRD Corp, is set at 9 p.m. and will be aired live over Solar Sports, Sky Channel 70 and Destiny Channel 34.


The Philippine Star

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Reyes, Amit win World Mixed Doubles title

Source | abs-cbnNews | MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine tandem of Efren “Bata” Reyes and Rubilen “Bingkay” Amit won the World Mixed Doubles Billiards crown by defeating American opponents Johnny Archer and Jeanette Lee, 10-6, late Friday in Hangzhou, China.

Reyes and Amit pocketed the USD$15,000 top prize.

On their way to the finals, they defeated China in a thrilling semis match against Li He Wen and Chen Si Ming, 9-8. A total of 16 teams from the around the world participated in the event.

Among the participants were World 10-Ball Champion Kelly Fisher, Allisson Fisher, Mika Immonen, Thorsten Hohmann, Charlie Williams, Fu Xiao Fang, Lui Hai Tao, and  Shanelle Loraine.

By winning the event, the Puyat Sports stalwarts successfully defended the crown they won 2 years ago.

The 56-year-old Reyes also became the oldest player to win an open international event participated by top young players.

“We hope our win will bring some cheers to our countrymen this Christmas Season. We offer our win today to our country,” Reyes said after the game.

Reyes and Amit won the event’s inaugural championship in 2009, defeating the Korean tandem of Charlie Williams and Park Eun-ji. – By Marlon Bernardino

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Orcollo is king of pool world

Source | Philippine Daily Inquirer | The fisherman is now king. Dennis Orcollo, who once needed to learn how to fish to feed his family, soared to the top of pool royalty after being named 2011 World Pool And Billiards Association player of the year.

Orcollo, 32, racked up 2,570 points to finish the year in the top spot, beating out Yukio Akagariyama of Japan (2382). England’s Darren Appleton was third (2256) while another Filipino, Ronnie Alcano, finished fourth (2063).

Orcollo won his first world title when he topped the World 8-Ball crown in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. He finished third in the World 9-Ball championship, fifth in the World 10-Ball tournament and seventh in the Philippine Open.

Orcollo is set to receive a trophy and a Tag Heuer watch for his feat. Orcollo was forced to fend for his family when he was 9 years old after his father disappeared in a fishing accident. He turned to pool during breaks from reeling nets and immediately showed potential in the sport.

As a teenager, he decided to travel to Manila to pursue a career in pool.

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