MANILA, Philippines - Lee Vann Corteza routed Taiwanese Chang Jung-lin, 11-4, to storm into the semifinal round of the China 9-ball Open at the Minya Hotel in Shanghai, China over the weekend.
Corteza’s win kept a possible all-Filipino clash in the finals as Antonio Lining likewise hurdled compatriot Jeffrey De Luna, 11-3, in their quarterfinal duel.
Corteza goes for a finals berth against world’s No. 2 Yu Long Zhang of China, who nipped Americans Shane Van Boening, 11-9.
Corteza, winner of the Predator Sweet 16 at SM North Edsa recently, earlier beat Yukio Akakariyama of Japan, 11-6, in the round-of-32 then survived Zhi Dong Lang of China, 11-9, in the round-of-16.
In Group stage play, Corteza defeated Wang Guobin of Chinese-Taipei, 11-6, but bowed to Ko Pin-yi of Chinese-Taipei, 3-11, and had to work his way up from the loser’s brackets in Group 2. He beat Naoyuki Oi of Japan, 11-5, in the do-or-die match to advance to the knockout phase.
Lining, on the other hand, faces Liu Hai Tao in the semis after the Chinese bet humbled RP legend Efren “Bata” Reyes, 11-2.
In women’s play, Rubilen Amit lost her quarterfinal match to Allison Fisher of Great Britain, 3-9.