Monday, October 29, 2007 Corteza loses to Kiamco By Marianne Saberon-Abalayan
LEE Vann Corteza faced Warren Kiamco in the fourth round Friday of 32nd US 9-Ball Championship and suffered a 6-11 defeat in a battle between two Filipino cue masters at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.
The defeat relegated Corteza to the losers bracket where the Davao City bet still has a big chance of bouncing back if he hurdles his next three assignments.
Corteza, one of the finest pool players to come out from the City of Durian, had won his first three matches until he ran into a blistering Kiamco.
Just a day before, Corteza took out tough Dutchman Neils Feijin in a thrilling showdown.
Francisco "Django" Bustamante also lost his match against compatriot Jose "Amang" Parica, 8-11, to join Corteza in a tough situation where another defeat would mean exit from the longest running 9-ball event in the world.
With the victory, Parica arranged a showdown with Tyler Edey, who beat Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, 11-8.
Kiamco, meanwhile, awaits the winner between two Filipinos--Ronato Alcano and Efren "Bata" Reyes.
The winner in the tournament will receive $50,000 cash prize will go to the champion, with the second placer getting $25,000.
