MANILA, Philippines - Former two-time National Open champion Lee Vann Corteza repulsed Jech Limen, 9-6, to avoid the rash of upsets in the Manny Pacquiao International 10-Ball Championships at the Star Billiards Center in Grace Village, QC yesterday.
The victory kept Corteza in the winners’ bracket that includes Jeffrey de Luna, Jundel Mazon and Antonio Lining.
De Luna, the 2007 Manny Pacquiao 9-Ball champion, bested Jericho Banares, 9-7, Mazon edged Judy Villanueva, 9-7, while Lining toppled Alex Lumpay, 9-6.
But fancied Ronnie Alcano, a former double world champion, Carlo Biado, Ramil Gallego, Ricky Zerna and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany fell by the wayside in the $60,000 tournament sponsored by Rep. Manny Pacquiao.
Biado, the reigning National Open champion, bowed to Ricky Puro, 5-9, Gallego lost to snooker ace Benjie Guevarra, 7-9, and newly crowned Sun Star 9-Ball champion Zerna dropped a 7-9 decision to Jeffrey Diaz, 7-9.
In the losers’ side, Hohmann lost to Manolo Tanasas, 7-9, while Alcano bowed to Edgie Geronimo, 5-9.
World No.1 Dennis Orcollo also stayed in the hunt in the losers’ side as he clipped Elmer Hay, 9-5, and Edwin ‘d Duck’ 9-6, respectively.