Corteza fends off Yang’s fiery comeback to win PBB Face Off 10-ball

FILIPINO Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza weathered Taiwan’s Yang Ching-shun’s fiery comeback to escape with a 9-6 win in the Philippine Bigtime Billiards (PBB) Face-Off series Saturday night at the Airport Pagcor Casino in Parañaque City.

Corteza, the top player of Negros Billiards Stable (NBS), took home the top prize worth $5,000. Yang, on the other hand, received $2,500.

“Luck played a part in my victory,” said Corteza, the two-time National Open champion.

“Yang is a very tough opponent and I really had a hard time beating him.”

Yang, known in Chinese-Taipei as the “Son of Pool,” forced a 4-all tie but scratched in the ninth rack, allowing Corteza to take the lead.

The Davao City native Corteza then won his next two racks to lead, 7-4, and never looked backed in the race-to-9, winner’s break match up.

Negros Billiards Stable head coach Christopher Palses also said the scratch in the ninth was the pivotal point of the game.

“Buti nag scratch si Yang sa ninth rack, yun ang turning point ni Van-Van (Corteza).”

Corteza topped the 3rd  Golden Break 9-Ball Invitational Championship 2011 last August at the Golden Break Snooker & Pool Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He also won 2011 San Miguel Beer Oktoberfest 9-ball Open Masters category at the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City last October.

The PBB Face Off series resumes with a match pitting Yang against Dennis Orcollo on Dec. 10.

After that, Chang Jung Lin of Chinese-Taipei battles Roberto Gomez on Dec. 17, Chang takes on Carlo Biado on Dec. 23 and Wu Chia Ching of China battles Efren “Bata” Reyes on Dec. 30.   /Correspondent MARLON BERNARDINO