source: Abac Cordero | philstar.com

Lee Van Corteza made everything look so easy last night, posting a 9-0 shutout of Chinese-Taipei money-game king Yang Ching Shun to reach the knockout phase of the World 10-Ball Championship at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Corteza, winner of seven gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games from 1999 up to 2005, pounced on a very early miscue by Yang en route to the victory that provided one of the high notes for the locals in the second day of competition.

It was the second win in as many days for the 30-year-old Corteza who scored a 9-4 win over Norway’s Vegar Kristiansen the other day. The Pinoy cue artist nicknamed “Banban” (which could mean patsy in Filipino) is now in the Final 64.

“He earned the break in the first rack but scratched. From that miscue I went up 3-0,” said Corteza, who could have won $1,000 on the side if his opponent, very steady in money games, had not pulled out the wager at the last minute.

“It was almost set until he decided that we do the money game after the tournament. But it’s okay,” said Corteza

It was the first shutout win so far in the 128-man tournament.

Corteza said he’d be happy to see at least six Filipinos (of the 19) making it to the knockout phase, but hoped that if they ever crossed paths it would be in the latter part, at least in the Final 8.

Joining Corteza in the next round was Dennis Orcullo who defeated Poland’s Thomas Kaplan, 9-5. It was a big win for the FIlipino considering that Kaplan was the same player who defeated top-seed Ralph Souquet of Germany the other day.

Still, Orcullo said he’s not satisfied with his game yet.

“I haven’t played well yet. I’m still adjusting to the table because the cloth is too smooth. But I will get used to it,” he said.

Defending champion Darren Appleton of Britain also advanced to the next round with a 9-2 win over MB Alias of Brunei, same as Kuo Po Cheng of Taipei with a 9-5 win over Mario Tolentino, and Kenny Kwok of Hong Kong, a 9-3 winner over Ben Nunan of Australia.

Ronnie Alcano, the 2006 World 9-Ball champion, lived to fight another day following a 9-5 win over compatriot Demosthenes Pulpul. They set up an early clash between two local favorites after they both lost their matches last Wednesday.

Souquet averted an early exit following a 9-3 win over Steve Villanil of the Philippines.

Dang Jin Hu of China, who looked so happy after beating Alcano, 9-7, on opening day, kept the smile on his face as he made it to the Final 64 with a 9-5 win over Johnny Archer of the United States.

Jomar de Ocampo, who stunned Taipei’s Wang Hung-Shiang the other day, ran out of luck against China’s Li Hewen and dropped a 9-6 decision. But he still has a chance to advance as long as he wins his next match.

Fifth-seed Shane Van Boening of the United States was the tournament’s first big casualty. After losing to Vietnam’s Nguyen Tuan, 9-8, Boening took a more painful 9-6 loss to Fonstantin Stepanov of Russia.



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