Tuesday, April 03, 2007 Corteza to compete in big US events By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan
NEWLY-crowned BSCP National Pool champion Lee Vann Corteza of Davao City will have his hands full when he competes in a series of world-class tournaments abroad.
The 28-year-old Corteza, who bested Marlon Manalo, 13-11, in the BSCP finals Saturday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, bared this to Sun.Star Davao in a phone interview Monday.
"I will be in Jakarta on April 20 to 22 for the Guinness 9-Ball Open together with Ronnie Alcano, Jefrrey de Luna and another player. The tournament offers $20,000 dollars for the champion," Corteza said.
Corteza, who hails from Mintal, said he will see action in the Predator Open 9-Ball Tournament in Florida, USA by the end of May then continue his campaigns in other states there.
"Baka balik ako sa Pilipinas sa July bago ako sasabak muli sa America para sa International Challenge of Champions sa August 8 at 9 (I might come back to the country in July before going back to the States for the International Challenge of Champions set August 8 and 9)," he added.
Corteza and reigning world pool champion Alcano are the only two Filipinos invited to the eight-man Challenge of Champions where the world's finest cue artists are also entered.
"Sana nga tuloy-tuloy na ang panalo ko kung papahintulutan ng nasa Itaas. Kaya kailangan ko paring mag ensayo araw-araw para maging handa sa anumang laban (I hope my victories will go on as God permits. That's why I still need to train every day to be ready in every battle)," Corteza said.
He said not all of the P500,000 champion's purse went to him.
"Kailangan ko rin kasing bigyan ang mga sponsors ko at ang matitira itatabi ko para sa hinaharap. Alam mo naman, ang bilyar hindi panghabambuhay. Hindi rin tayo nananalo parati. Mas maigi talagang mag-ipon (I need to give to my sponsors and save what's left of it for the future of my family. Billiards is not for a lifetime and I couldn't win all the time. It's best to save)," he explained.
Corteza also won P1,000,000 in the All-Japan Open in December last year.
When asked to comment about Alcano's dismal performance in the BSCP cuefest, where Dabawenya Mary Ann Basas placed second for the P100,000 cash prize, Corteza said a player needs to be prepared emotionally, mentally and physically for the game.
"Baka naapektuhan lang talaga ng husto si Ronnie sa mga pangyayari. Nakakawala kasi ng kumpiyansa `pag may dinadalang problema habang naglalaro (Ronnie may have just have been affected with what's happening around him. It affects one's confidence when you play with a problem in mind)," Corteza said.
