Tuesday, August 07, 2007 Corteza still has shot in Bali By Marianne Saberon-Abalayan
LEE Vann Corteza of Davao City will continue his title-hunt after landing on the 10th and final spot of the Guinness 9-Ball Tour Order of Merit for a ticket to the Grand Championship Final on August 31 to September 2 in Bali, Indonesia.
"He was very happy. He really didn't expect to make it to the top 10. He only found out during the last day of competition that he is going to play in Bali," Corteza's wife Gelia told Sun.Star Davao in a text message Monday.
Corteza was eliminated by Chinese Taipei's Chao Fong Pang in the Shanghai group stage. But he managed to take the last slot to the Bali final after compatriot Ronato Alcano defeated Korean Ryu Seung Woo, 11-6, in the Shanghai semi-finals.
Ryu was Corteza's stiffest rival for the 10th spot. A win by Ryu over reigning World 8-Ball and 9-Ball champion Alcano would have earned him a total of 110 points. Corteza only had 100 points.
Alcano, however, bowed to Chinese Taipei ace Yang Ching-Shun, 10-12 in the finals.
Yang, who won his third title after five Tour stops, also took the No. 1 spot of the Guinness Order of Merit with a total of 245 points.
Three other Chinese players Chang Jung Lin (185), Chao Fong Pang (180) and former world pool champion Wu Chia Ching (160) took the second, third and fourth spots, respectively.
Completing the top 10 were Indonesian Ricky Yang (150), Alcano (135), Malaysian Ibrahim Bin Amir (120), Indian Dharminder Singh Lilly (120), Singaporean Bernard Tey Choon Kiat (115) and Corteza (100).
