Corteza strikes again, pockets US 10-Ball crown
For the second time in almost three weeks, Lee Van Corteza conquered two big cities in the United States to lay claim on major pool titles. The highest-rated Filipino player outlasted Chinese ace Lo Hi Wen in a grueling 25-rack encounter, 13-12, to pocket the $20,000 top prize and add the US Open 10-Ball Championship to his growing list of winning collections. More than two weeks ago, Corteza also ruled a major 10-Ball tournament in Los Angeles, the Hard Times Mezz Cues 10-Ball Open. Corteza, ranked No.5 in the World Pool-Billiard Association rankings, is one of three Filipinos to win a pool championship overseas the past three weeks. Last week, Dennis Orcullo bagged the World Pool Masters crown then Francisco âDjango" Bustamante stamped his class in the Super Billiards League in Winnipeg, Canada. Playing in his favorite discipline, Corteza racked up six straight wins in the winnerâs bracket. He scuttled Tony Robles of Mexico (9-6), whipped American Chris Bartram (9-5), nipped Francis Crevier of US (9-8), ran roughshod over Kuo Po-cheng of Chinese-Taipei (9-2) and edged Mike Dechaine of US (9-8), and Manny Chau of Peru (9-8), respectively. With the bruising pace taking its toll on the World Ten Ball runner-up, Corteza lost to Lo, 9-6, in the hot seat match, relegating the best player from the Negros Billiards stable in a do-or-die encounter with former US Open champion Shane Van Boening, who earlier defeated Bustamante, 9-6.
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