Thursday, March 08, 2007 Corteza loses to Dutch foe By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
THE country’s top pool masters got ambushed one after the other Tuesday in the World 8-Ball Championship in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.
Francisco "Django" Bustamante and Efren "Bata" Reyes, the 1-2 punch of Philippine billiards, bowed out of the annual tournament with contrasting defeats, while young gunner Lee Van Corteza bowed out of contention following his defeat to a Dutch hitman.
Corteza, many-time Southeast Asian Games gold medal winner who hails from Davao City, saw his run end at the hands of Nick Van Den Berg, who prevailed 10-7.
Corteza was hoping to move into the Round of 16 after reaching the last 32 Sunday, but failed to sustain his fiery form against Van den Berg, who placed second last year.
Bustamante was the first to head to the exit after blowing what could have been a won game against Thomas Engert of Germany.
Engert advanced via the narrowest of margins, 10-9, that broke the hearts of a huge Filipino crowd in attendance.
Reyes got the exit door, too.
After beating compatriot James Ortega, 10-2, the top Filipino player was upstaged by giant-killer Narcus Chamat of Sweden via a 10-4 score.
Only the brilliant game of Dennis Orcollo stopped the Filipino bleeding.
Orcollo, a big money player, brought down a giant in Ralf Souquet of Germany, whom he eliminated, 10-8.
Orcollo was joined in the next round by reigning World Pool champion Ronnie Alcano, who ousted former world 9-ball winner Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, 10-3.
The quarterfinal and semifinal rounds were to be contested later Wednesday beginning at at the Al Bustan Centre in Fujairah.
