Phl’s Corteza, Orcollo win World Cup of Pool

CEBU, Philippines - Lee Vann Corteza and Dennis Orcollo of Team Philippines blizted their way to a thrilling 10-8 win over Neils Feijen and Nick Van Der Berg of Holland to crown themselves the 888.com World Cup of Pool champions late Sunday night (Monday morning) at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, East London.

Aside from pocketing the $60,000 grand prize, Corteza and Orcollo also take pride for pushing the Philippines as the most winningest nation in the seven-year history of the World Cup of Pool with three titles already after fellow countrymen Efren "Bata" Reyes and Francisco "Django" Bustamante ruled the event twice in 2006 and 2009.

“The fans here were why we won. There was a lot of pressure and things became very difficult but the Filipino community in London who supported us throughout really helped us through," said Orcollo in a report by matchroompool.com. 

“I reached the final of the World Cup in Manila in 2010 but we came up short so it is fantastic to win here in London. I would love it for me and Lee Vann to defend the World Cup in the Philippines next year as it would be a dream come true to win it again in our home country,” added the pride of Surigao City.

Corteza and Orcollo scored resounding wins over Croatia, Singapore, and Hungary before terminating the deadly Chinese Taipei tandem of Jung-lin and Pin-yi, 9-7, to set up a championship clash with the Feijen and Van Der Berg, who advanced after ousting Mika Immonen and Petri Makkonen of Finland, 9-4.

In the exciting race-to-10 finale, the Mindanao shotmakers cruised to a 2-0 start, but the Dutchmen fought back with savvy to forge a 3-3 deadlock.

Corteza and Orcollo, however, quickly worked their way to the top again, sweeping the next three racks for a 6-3 lead, but in the winner breaks format, Feijen and Van Der Berg capitalized on the mistakes of the Pinoy cue masters to know the count anew at 7-7, practically reducing their battle into a race-to-three.

The Dutchmen even took an 8-7 edge and they could have even moved to the hill but Feijen missed a pressure pot, giving the Pinoys some breathing room after an 8-8 standoff.

There's no stopping for Corteza and Orcollo from there onward as they bravely overcame a spirited challenge by Feijen and Van Der Berg in a heart-pounding match. The turning points of their victory was when Corteza managed to sink in a long 8-all ball in the 18th frame. Orcollo then knocked in the final 9 to wrap up their splendid triumph.

“You have to thank those Philippines supporters who helped us through. Representing my country is such a big honor for me and I’m very thankful and proud to have won the World Cup of Pool for the Philippines,” said the Cagayan de Oro City-native Corteza in the same internet report. (FREEMAN)