LIPA CITY, Philippines – Lee Van Corteza came from behind to edge Ramil Gallego, 11-10, to rule The Manny Villar Cup Calabarzon leg yesterday at the Activity Center of SM City Mall here.
Corteza, a three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, crawled back from a number of two-rack deficits in denying Gallego a second title, while clinching his first in the island-hopping series presented by Sen. Manny Villar’s Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports.
“At last!,” screamed Corteza, a pride of Davao City. “I’ve long been dreaming of winning this Villar Cup and I’m very happy that I finally did.”
Corteza became the seventh player to hold the crown after Warren Kiamco (Alabang), Gandy Valle (Cebu), Gallego (Bulacan), Roberto Gomez (Davao and Isabela), Rodolfo Luat (Bacolod) and Django Bustamante.
The feat earned him the P300,000.
The event is co-organized by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines, sponsored by Camella Communities, and sanctioned by the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines.
It was not an easy road for Corteza in winning this tournament.
He opened his campaign by slipping past Joven Bustamante, 9-7, then followed it up by finally beating his perennial nemesis Gandy Valle, 9-4, to advance into the quarterfinals.
There, Corteza had to weather a tough challenge by rising star Ricky Zerna before pulling through with a 9-7 win.
Then he had to bounce back again from being down for a long stretch to beat Carlo Biado, 10-8, in the semifinals.
In the title-match, Corteza found himself two racks down thrice, the last at 7-9. He managed to tie the count after the 18th rack, but allowed Gallego to reach the hill first.