Billiards
Corteza hurdles Orcullo to rule Pacman 10-Ball
Playing in his favorite discipline in pool – 10-Ball – Lee Van Corteza was able to put one over reigning world No. 1 player Dennis Orcullo.
Corteza, who won the US Open 10-Ball last year, defeated Orcullo, 11-8, in the finals of the Pacman International 10-Ball Cup to bag the $30,000 top prize put up by eight-division world boxing champion and new pool godfather Manny Pacquiao.
A runner-up of the World Ten Ball Championship in 2009, Corteza entered a tough semifinals showdown with the power breaking Jeff de Luna before prevailing, 11-9, and arranging a titular showdown with the newly-minted WPA Player of the Year.
Orcullo, the current holder of the World 8-Ball title, outlasted Jeremy Diaz in a similar neck-to-neck race for a finals berth.
In finishing second, Orcullo settled for just $10,000 and fell short of adding yet another international title to his list of collection this year.
“Medyo comfortable talaga ako sa 10-Ball,” said Corteza, one of the premier players of businessman/sportsman Jonathan Sy. “Si Dennis matagal ko na rin nakakalaro kaya medyo kabisado ko na rin, pero swerte rin ako sa bola. Ganyan naman ang bilyar, swertihan rin lang.”
