MANILA -- Reigning national champion Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza defeated double world champion (WPA 9-ball and 8-ball) champion Ronato "Calamba" Alcano, 9-4, in the finals to rules the just concluded 2010 Manny Villar Cup 10-ball tournament late Friday here at the One Side Billiards and Café Bar in Mabini, Manila.
"Winning a tournament wherein you have to compete against the country's bests players is a very big accomplishment, and I'm very happy for this win," said Corteza, the top player of Jonathan Sy's Negros Billiard Stable.
"I got my confidence after winning against Nickoy (Antonio Lining)," added Negros Billiard Stable ace Corteza, one of six players representing the country in the first World Team Championship in Hannover, Germany, from Jan. 30 to Feb. 7.
The feat made Corteza ranked No. 4 in the world based on the latest rankings released by the World Pool Billiard Association (WPBA) following his second back-to-back local titles. He captured the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) 4th National Pool Championships crown last month at the Star Billiards Center in Grace Village, Quezon City.
The recent win earned him the top purse of P400,000 in the event backed up by Filipino ring hero and World Champion Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao, also an avid billiards and chess enthusiast.
The native Davao City Corteza, also the 2009 World Ten Ball finalist, raced a 7-2 commanding lead and never looked back in the race-to-9, winner's break format.
"I was lucky I was able to lead early, it's tiring to make ground when you are too far behind", said Corteza, who lost to Mika "The Iceman" Immonen of Finland in the WTBC finals at the World Trade Center in Pasay City in December.
Alcano, playing under the banner of Perry Mariano's Bugsy Promotions settled for the runner-up prize of P150,000.
Corteza earlier eliminated Japan-based Lining, 8-6, while Alcano defeated another NBS bet Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, 8-1.
Lining, the pride of Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro and Kiamco, who hails from Pasil, Cebu received P50,00 each for making it to the final four.