Corteza is Philippines’ National Champion

Lee Van Corteza of Davao City crowned his return to the top rung of Philippine pool with a hair-raising 13-11 victory Saturday night (March 31) over Marlon Manalo to rule the 2nd BSCP National Pool Championships at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

Before a sellout crowd of fans and wellwishers, the two battled on even terms for three hours, displaying nerves and exchanging superb shotmaking in their first big dance for a major pool championship. In the end, Corteza, 28, had both lady luck and better shotmaking to take the title.

With the score at 12-11, Manalo, 31, had a chance to knot the count at 12-all. But he blew it when he fouled the 4-ball while trying to hit the 1-ball. That gave Corteza the chance to seal the outcome.

Running out the final frame was no picnic, however. Corteza created his own headache when he overran his position play on the 8-ball. After studying the position of the remaining two balls carefully, he decided to take the shot. He coolly cut the 8-ball to the corner pocket and sent the cue going three rails around the table. The audience gasped. And then the cue ball halted just a foot away from the 9-ball for an easy final shot.

Unlike the almost flawless Corteza-Orcullo encounter of the night before, the championship finals was marked by errors from both players. Manalo had five pocketing errors and Corteza three that enabled the other player to run out the table.

Corteza pocketed P500,000 ($10,375) in first place money plus the handsome championship trophy. Manalo took home P250,000 ($5,188).

In the battle for third place, Dennis Orcullo prevailed over Antonio Lining in his second straight hill-hill match in two nights. He won the third place money of P150,000, and Lining took home P100,000.

In addition, the four players won berths in the 2007 World Pool Championship in Manila in November.

Rañola Takes Women’s Title

After years of being known as the second-best woman player in the Philippines, Iris Rañola of Zamboanga City finally reached the summit Saturday night (March 31) when she copped the first BSCP women’s national pool championship title.

She beat Mary Anne Basas of Davao City and Davao Oriental 9-7 in a tense match marked by some superb play from both sides, a few errors and a foul against Rañola for going over the time limit of 45 seconds.

In the end, the Zamboanga City lass displayed better shotmaking and superior position play to prevail. She beat Basas 7-6 in an earlier match. Rañola was unbeaten throughout the tournament.

Basas had a chance to knot the score at 8-all in the 16th rack. But she bobbled a ball in a corner pocket in one critical position play. That allowed Rañola to clean up the table and take the match.

The first official Filipino women’s pool champion won P200,000 ($4,149) in first place money and the champion’s trophy. Basas for her part took home P100,000 ($2,075).

In the battle for third place, Rubilen Amit beat Jingles David 7-5. They won P50,000 and P25,000 respectively.

Rañola, Basas and Amit will now join the Women’s World Pool Championship tournament in Taipei slated on April 5.

All info courtesy of PoolPhilippines.com ( Sunday, 01 April 2007 )

• Corteza and Ranola Emerge Victorious
• Corteza Beats Orcullo in Match for the Ages
• Manalo Takes First Finals Berth

March 26-31, 2007, Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Rizal Memorial Complex, Manila

Click here for more information