Sunday, October 21, 2007 Corteza ousted, Alcano still alive US 9-Ball Open By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan
DAVAO City's Lee Vann Corteza kissed his hopes goodbye while Laguna ace Ronato Alcano remained unbeaten in the 32nd US Open 9-Ball Championship at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.
Corteza bowed to Lee Chenman, 9-11, in their losers bracket match. The Dabawenyo also fell at the hands of Cebuano Warren Kiamco earlier in the winners side three bracket of the double-elimination format cuefest that stakes $50,000 to the champion.
Alcano, reigning World Pool 8-Ball and 9-Ball champion, sent Filipino compatriot Jose Parica to the losers side with an 11-7 win.
Alcano arranged a showdown with Parica, who racked up an 11-3 win against Tyler Edey, by overcoming Efren Reyes, 11-7, and Kiamco, 11-3.
In the loss side, Reyes first crushed Chenman, 11-2, then Ronnie Wiseman, 11-1, before absorbing a 4-11 defeat to Filipino Ramil Gallego.
Gallego went on to nip Parica, 11-9, to stay alive in the 233-player competition. Gallego also eliminated Bustamante.
Surigao bet Dennis Orcollo was also relegated to the losers bracket after he succumbing to Ralf Souquet, 5-11. Orcollo earlier disposed of James Walden, 11-5, and Tony Crosby, 11-4. Orcollo was set to clash against Larry Nevel in a do-or-die match.
Walden edged Rodolfo Luat, 11-10, sending the latter to the loss side. Luat eventually bowed out of contention having been beaten by Mika Immonen, 9-11.
Alex Pagulayan was also booted out of the cuefest by the fiery hands of Michael Dechaine, 9-11, while Kiamco was ousted by Niels Feijen.
