Lee Vann Corteza & Rubilen Amit Lead World Pool-Billiard Association Ranking!

Billiards buddies and pool player friends, four Filipino pool players are in the Top 10 in the recent world ranking released by the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA)! And I kid you not!

Lee Vann Corteza, aka The Slayer, is the highest Filipino pool player in the list at No. 2 with 1,879 points behind the 2009 World 10-Ball Champion Mika Immonen, aka The Iceman, of Finland, who registered a total of 2,082 points. Corteza is proudly sponsored by Kopiko and Energen.

The Slayer plays for the Negros Billiards Stable and JSY Sports. He recently won the 2010 Predator Sweet 16 and 2010 US Open 10-Ball Championships before placing an impressive 2nd runner-up finish in the just-concluded 2010 China 9-Ball Open held at the Minya Hotel in Shanghai, China.

Busan Asian Games gold medalist Antonio Lining, aka Nikoy, placed third with 1580 points. He accumulated 300 points when he placed second in the China 9-Ball Open. Incidentally, Nikoy also plays for the Negros Billiards Stable and JSY Sports.

Marlon Manalo, aka The Marvelous, is ranked seventh with 1,310 while Doha Asian Games silver medalist Jeffrey de Luna, aka The Bull, placed ninth with 1,221 points.

Rounding out the Top 10 players are fourth placer Ralf Souquet, aka The Kaiser, of Germany (1,434), fifth placer Karl Boyes of Great Britain (1,432), sixth placer Darren Appleton also of Great Britain (1,399), eighth placer Ruslan Chinakhov of Russia (1,245) and 10th placer Marcus Chamat of Sweden (1,161).

The other Filipinos in the list are No. 12 and reigning World 9-Ball Pool champion Francisco Bustamante, aka Django, (1,142), No. 18 and former world double champion Ronnie Alcano, aka The Volcano, (1,014), No. 23 Antonio Gabica, aka Gaga, (786), No. 24 Venancio Tanio (780), and No. 24 Dennis Orcollo, aka The Robocop (770). Bustamante plays for Puyat Sports while Alcano and Orcollo play for Bugsy Promotions.

In the women’s division, Puyat Sports' Rubilen Amit, aka Bingkay, landed third with 1,109  points. Amit is the Philippines' first lady world champion. She won the inaugural Women's World 10-Ball Championship held at the SM City North Edsa, Quezon City, last year. Great Britain's Allison Fisher, aka The Duchess of Doom, and Kelly Fisher took the top two spots with 1242 and 1034, respectively.

Mabuhay ang bilyar! 

Mabuhay ang Pinoy bilyarista!

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Slimming Coffee! Or not! The Truth About Slimming Coffee!

Slimming Coffee

Slimming Coffee – the name says it all. Or so I thought! In my efforts to know more about Slimming Coffee, with emphasis on its price, taste, and effectiveness, I chanced upon an article on the product published at “A Multi-Tasking Woman’s Life.”

Truth be told, I almost fell out of my chair with what I found out about Slimming Coffee! Indeed, the title of the post said it all: Slimming Coffee or KILLER COFFEE!

Here is the link to the post: Slimming Coffee or KILLER COFFEE. Read it! You’ll be glad you did. And I kid you not!

Hey! Is this product even BFAD-approved???!!!

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Yu Long Zhang Wins 2010 China 9-Ball Open! High Finishes for Antonio Lining and Lee Vann Corteza!

 

Congratulatory notes are in the offing to Filipino pool players Antonio Lining and Lee Vann Corteza for placing 1st an 2nd runner-ups, respectively, at the just-concluded 2010 China 9-Ball Open held at the Minya Hotel in Shanghai, China! Yu Long Zhang took home the championship trophy and the top prize of $40,000, while Lining settled for the runner-up prize of $15,000. Both Antonio Lining and Lee Vann Corteza play under the Negros Billiards Stable and JSY Sports. And I kid you not!

Lining lost to China’s Yu Long Zhang, 11-7, in the finals. Zhang earlier won against Corteza in the semis. 

Lee Vann Corteza, aka The Slayer, is fresh from winning the 2010 Predator Sweet 16 held at The Block in SM North Edsa, Quezon City, Philippines. Sponsored by Kopiko and Energen, the Slayer scored wins against Yukio Akakariyama of Japan, 11-6, in the round-of-32, and Zhi Dong Lang of China, 11-9, in the round-of-16. In the group stage, the Filipino pool player defeated Wang Guobin of Chinese-Taipei, 11-6, before losing to Ko Pin-yi of Chinese-Taipei, 3-11. He then beat Naoyuki Oi of Japan, 11-5, to advance in the knockout stage.

In the women’s finals, China’s Si Ming Chen won against Allison Fisher, aka The Duchess of Doom, 9-7. Fisher earlier won against Filipina pool player Rubilen Amit, aka Bingkay, in the quarterfinals, 9-3.

Congratulations Nikoy and Van-Van! Mabuhay!

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Predator 10-Ball Championship: Pictures in YouTube Format!

Billiards buddies and pool player friends, here are pictures from the recently concluded 2010 Predator 10-Ball Championship held at The Block at the SM City, North Edsa, in Quezon City, Philippines!

The 2010 Predator 10-Ball Championship was won by none other than by the ageless Efren Bata Reyes, aka The Magician! And I kid you not! Indeed, ‘twas a very exciting finals as Puyat Sports’ Efren Reyes battled it out to a hill-hill contest against Bugsy Promotions’ Roberto Gomez, aka Superman.

Without further ado, here are the pictures – all in YouTube format! Enjoy!

and

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Efren Bata Reyes Wins Predator 10-Ball Championship at The Block, SM City, North Edsa!

Efren Bata Reyes is still king! Who would have thought that Efren Bata Reyes, aka The Magician, would actually win the 2010 Predator 10-Ball Championship? So-called knowledgeable experts of billiards gave Efren Reyes the slimmest of chances – almost nil - to win the coveted championship after falling into the losers bracket on the second day of the competition! Experts huh? Well, eat your hearts out bums because Efren Bata Reyes, the greatest of the greats to ever wield a pool cue, has actually done it and more! And I kid you not!

I have been to the Block at SM City North Edsa, Quezon City, for almost every day of the competition. Believe you me, the semis, particularly the finals match, were jam-packed! I arrived early today – opening time: 10 AM – knowing that the place will be packed to the hilt because three of the last four players left in the competition were Filipinos, i.e., Efren Bata Reyes, Lee Van Corteza, and Roberto Gomez. The other player was Rodney Morris, aka The Rocket, from the USA. And before the finals even got started, over 3,000 people – spread across four floors of The Block - were there to watch the hometown heroes play in the finals - Efren Bata Reyes (Puyat Sports) squaring off against Roberto Gomez aka Superman (Bugsy Promotions)!

Efren Bata Reyes trailed behind Roberto Gomez, aka Superman, early in the match. The Magician was having problems with the shaft he was using. During commercial breaks – after each rack - Efren changed shafts on his pool cue, while his brother, Bong Reyes, and a companion tried to address the problem that The Magician was having with the shaft that he was initially using. And if you watched carefully, Efren even used his break cue at one point of the match because of the problems he was having with his cue shaft!

Bong Reyes and his companion did try to sand Efren’s pool cue shaft to the Magician’s liking. However, there was one small problem – they were out of sandpaper! ‘Twas a good thing that my good friend, pool player Jean Michel Berille, was paying attention to what was going on! Jean Michel, who was sitting beside on my left, quickly got hold of his cue case and pulled out a TipPik and sandpapers of different grades! We passed the stuff to Bong and his companion, who knew what to do and all.

‘Twas around 5-1 in the match, with the Superman leading, that Bong Reyes and his companion finished sanding the shaft. Efren finally felt comfortable with his cue. And what a time it was because Roberto Gomez was making mistakes at this point in time, which allowed Efren to get back in the game! And somehow. Someway. The Magician managed to stir his magic to snatch up the lead at 7-6! From there on, Efren “Bata” Reyes and Roberto “Superman” Gomez went an exciting hill-hill! Bata Reyes was first on the hill, but Roberto quickly followed. And you could clearly see the Roberto had the momentum then! But destiny was not with the Superman today. Pool’s Living Legend won – Efren Bata Reyes – via a 10-9 score!

Sharking during the match? You bet there was some! And from both sides! There were even words between the two Filipino players at one point in time. Still, all was well between the two after the match. And that is the honest truth!


*For those not in the know, Roberto Gomez, who was the first to gain a berth for the finals, really wanted to play Efren in the finals rather than Rodney Morris! Roberto Gomez knew that the fans would be rooting for Efren - putting pressure on pool's Living Legend. And he liked it that way - sort of easing the burden on him.

But as I have stated above, Destiny was not with the Superman today. He remains a bridesmaid still at this point in time. But I have a very strong feeling , and a very strong one, if I may add, that it won't be long that Roberto Gomez would finally put a halt to such.

Congratulations Efren Bata Reyes!
And more congratulations to
Roberto Gomez, Lee Vann Corteza, and Rodney Morris!
Mabuhay!

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Lee Vann Corteza Wins Predator Sweet 16 at The Block, SM City North Edsa!

He put a rocket in his pocket! That was the thought that initially came to my mind when Lee Vann Corteza, aka The Slayer, defeated Rodney Morris, aka The Rocket, in the Race-to-8 Finals of the Predator Sweet 16 Tournament held today, September 14, 2010, at The Block, SM City North Edsa, Quezon City.

The Predator Sweet 16 is the completion of the Predator billiards competition that was postponed in Spain in 2009. Four very strong players representing the best of pool the world over remained today after the last sixteen battled it out yesterday at the famous Star Billiards Center in Quezon City - owned and managed by one of pool’s great benefactors, Mr. Sebastian Chua. These players include Rodney Morris (USA), David Alcaide (Spain), Neils Feijen (The Netherlands) aka The Terminator, and the lone Filipino - Lee Vann Corteza of the Negros Billiards Stable and JSY Sports.


Televised on ESPN Star Asia, the Predator Sweet 16 semi-finals saw Lee Vann Corteza, who sported a Diveney Cues shirt adorned with the Kopiko brand and the newly-redesigned JSY Sports logos, dominate David Alcaide, Spain’s number pool player. In the other match-up, Rodney Morris came out the winner against Neils Feijen. This now pitted Corteza against Morris in the jam-packed finals that had everybody glued to their seats - including yours truly!

Rodney Morris delivered the goods – quickly and effectively – by scoring four straight racks! However, Davao’s favorite son - Lee Van Corteza - was not to be denied his moment of glory in the motherland! The Slayer, who, I later learned silently prayed for an opportunity to return to the pool table when he was down 4-0, visciously slain the Rocket from the USA via seven (7) consecutive racks! Yes, you’ve read right, everyone! The Slayer strung 7 consecutive racks and initially nailed the Rocket to his first four. However, the latter summoned a second wind to inch up a game to 5 against the former's 7. And at 8-5, Lee Vann , The Slayer, took home the coveted Predator championship and the 10,000 Euros first prize!

And for those not in the know, the racks won by Lee Vann included a total of eight jump shots to boot – four of which he successfully pocketed the object ball! 'Twas one awesome feat!


One thing that impressed me was how dangerous Lee Vann Corteza has become on the pool table. Corteza is not just a pool player with excellent pocketing skills, superb position plays, and amazing cueball control. He has evolved into a thinking pool player – and at the top of his class, too! Did you notice that at each and every push-out, the Slayer would push the cueball behind a ball or a cluster of balls to effectively eliminate a perfect line of sight to the object ball? Yes, he did! The Slayer knew the various strengths of Rodney Morris’ game, one of which is pocketing. However, he was also very much aware of one of The Rocket’s weaknesses, e.g., the jump shot!

And unlike Morris, Corteza is very much adept with the jump shot – as shown by the stats above, i.e., 100% batting average with regard to effectively making the jump coupled with a very impressive 50% average of successfully pocketing of the object ball! If one remembers the finals match, Lee Vann successfully mixed defensive and offensive plays into one formidable tactic! The first time he got to break, Lee Vann, with no clear sight on the 1-ball, opted for a push-out. He hid the cueball behind the 4-ball, which totally blocked the straight line of sight to the 1-ball. Rodney Morris quickly gave the table back to Corteza.

The Slayer, without batting an eyelash, rested his beautiful Diveney cue at the side of his cue case, got hold of his jump cue, chalked it, jumped over the 4-ball and pocketed the 1-ball in the corner pocket, and successfully ran out the rack for his first score on the board! This had the crowd applauding! And this he did for a number of times against the Rocket, who eventually lost his momentum and all! The Rocket even tried to give the Slayer a dose of his medicine – but to no avail! Simply put, this tactic was just sheer brilliance on the part of the Slayer! And I kid you not!


Lee Vann Corteza did such and all amidst the presence of some of the who’s who in the world of pool. These included his sponsors Mr. Jonathan Sy (Negros Billiards Stable (NBS) and JSY Sports) and Mr. and Mrs. Pat Diveney (Diveney Cues) who flew in all the way from Iowa, Barry Behrman (US Open Founder and Promoter), Karim Belhaj (Predator CEO and President), Mrs. Verna Mariano (Bugsy Promotions President), Cindy Lee (Dragon Promotions CEO), the whole NBS squad, and some of the world’s top 60 players, e.g., Efren Bata Reyes, Francisco Django Bustamante, Alex Pagulayan aka The Lion, Marlon Manalo, Shane Van Boening, Johnny Archer, Thorsten Hohmann, Charlie Williams, Niels Feijen, Tony Drago, Oscar Dominguez, and more!

Indeed, there are many good pool players out there. All brilliant! All spectacular! But only one can fittingly be called and described as dangerous. And he is Lee Vann Corteza aka The Slayer!

Congratulations Lee Vann Corteza!
You made the Filipinos proud! Mabuhay!

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World Cup of Pool: Venue & Schedule of the 2010 PartyPoker.net Billiards Competition!

Billiards players and fans, a total 31 countries will be represented at the 2010 PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool, which will be held from September 7 to September 12, 2010, at Robinson’s Place, Manila.

The 2010 PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool will feature 15 teams from Europe, 13 teams from Asia, 2 from North America, 1 from Australia, and one from the Middle East. And guess what?! The Pool Capital of the World – the Philippines - as host nation, is being given two teams in the competition! And I kid you not!

The countries taking part in the 2010 PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool include Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Croatia, England, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Malta, Philippines A, Philippines B, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, USA, and Vietnam.

Participating Teams

Australia James Delahunty / Ricky Emery
Austria Mario He / Jasmin Ouschan
Belgium Serge Das / Noel Bruynooghe
Canada John Morra / Jason Klatt
China Fu Jianbo / Li Hewen
Croatia Carlo Dalmatin / Philipp Stojanovic
England DarylPeach / Karl Boyes
Finland Mika Immonen / Markus Juva
France Stephan Cohen / Francois Cottance
Germany Ralf Souquet / Oliver Ortmann
Holland Niels Feijen / Huidji See
Hong Kong Lee Chenman / Kenny Kwok
India Raj Hundal / Dharminder Singh Lilly
Indonesia Muhammad Zulfikri / Ricky Yang
Italy Fabio Petroni / Bruno Muratore
Japan Naoyuki Oi / Toru Kuribayashi
Korea Yu Ram Cha / Ga Young Kim
Malaysia Ibrahim Bin Amir / Lee Poh Soon
Malta Tony Drago / Alex Borg
Philippines A: Efren Bata Reyes / Francisco Bustamante
Philippines B: Roberto Gomez / Dennis Orcollo
Poland Radoslaw Babica / Mariusz Skoneczny
Qatar Mohammad Al Bin Ali / Bashar Hussain
Russia Konstantin Stepanov / Ruslan Chinakhov
Singapore Chan Keng Kwang / Toh Lian Han
Slovenia Matjaz Erculj / Matej Sulek
Spain David Alcaide / Francisco Sanchez Ruiz
Sweden Marcus Chamat / Thomas Mehtala
Taiwan Ko Pin -Yi / Chang Jung-Lin
Thailand Nitiwat Kanjanasri / Surathep Phoochalam
USA Rodney Morris / Johnny Archer
Vietnam Luong Chi Dung / Do Hoang Quan



Competition schedule

Tuesday, September 7
2pm - Canada v Russia then Indonesia v India.
3pm - China v Belgium then Italy v Korea.
6pm - Germany v Hong Kong then Philippines A v Thailand.

Wednesday, September 8
12pm - England v Qatar then France v Australia
3pm - Japan v Slovenia then Poland v Malta
6pm - Taiwan v Malaysia then Philippines B v Croatia

Thursday, September 9
12pm - Holland v Austria then Finland v Singapore
3pm - USA v Sweden then Spain v Vietnam

Last 16 (race to eight, winner breaks)
6pm - Taiwan or Malaysia v Japan
or Slovenia then Philippines A
or Thailand v Indonesia or India.

Friday, September 10
12pm - Germany or Hong Kong v Canada
or Russia then England
or Qatar v France or Australia.

3pm - China or Belgium v Italy
or Korea then Holland
or Austria v Finland or Singapore.

6pm - USA or Sweden v Poland
or Malta then Philippines B
or Croatia v Spain or Vietnam.


Quarter-finals (race to 9, winner breaks)
Saturday, September 11
2pm (TBC) - Quarter-finals 1 and 2
6pm (TBC) - Quarter-finals 3 and 4


Semi-finals (race to 9, winner breaks)
1pm (TBC) - Both semi-finals

Final (race to 11, winner breaks)
6pm (TBC) - Final


*Times for Saturday and Sunday matches
are still to be confirmed.

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