Corteza routs Harper, stays in hunt in US 10-Ball

MANILA, Philippines - Lee Van Corteza sustained his win run in the Annual Hard Times-Mezz Cues 10-Ball Open, beating American Corey Harper, 9-1, at the Hard Times Billiards in Bellflower, Los Angeles California, USA Saturday.

Corteza seized control early with a string of run-outs to cruise to the easy win as he remained unbeaten in the true double elimination, winner’s break format.

But while Corteza gained, fancied Efren Reyes and veteran campaigner Ramon Mistica fell by the wayside.

Reyes lost to Warren Kiamco, 6-9, while Mistica dropped an 8-9 decision to Ed Mataya and failed to advance in the losers’ bracket.

Corteza, who took a bye in the first round, routed Steve Chaplin, 9-0, Ismael Paez, 9-1, and Stevie Moore, 9-1, before squaring off with Harper.

Reyes demolished Melinda Huang, 9-5, Mika Immonen of Finland, 9-1, but lost to American Rodney Morris, 6-9, in the winners’ side.

Mistica, on the other hand, scored back-to-back victories over Chris Tate, 9-2, and Abe Lim, 9-2, before bowing to Harper, 8-9, in the winners’ side.

Mistica bounced back by edging Ronnie Wiseman of the US, 9-8, and Marcus Chamat of Sweden, 9-4, but bowed to Mataya.

Kiamco beat Marcos Rodriguez, 9-5, but lost to Dave Grau, 9-6, although he remained in the hunt by beating Al Garcia, James Burt and Reyes, respectively, in the losers’ side.