Corteza, 2 others unbeaten in US 10-Ball

MANILA, Philippines - Reigning National Open champion Lee Vann Corteza, Warren Kiamco and Roberto Gomez hurdled their respective rivals to remain unbeaten in the US Open 10-Ball Championship at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada Thursday.

Corteza pulled off a cliffhanger over American Francis Crevier, 9-8, to firm up his bid for top $20,000 purse in the $89,000 tournament, which drew the world’s leading players.

“I just got lucky,” said Corteza, fresh from winning the inaugural Annual Hard Times-Mezz Cues 10-Ball Open at the Hard Times Billiards in Bellflower, Los Angeles two weeks ago.

Corteza guns for his fourth straight victory in the tournament when he fights Kuo Po-cheng of Taiwan, who also posted a 9-8 victory over former world 9-Ball champion Earl Strickland of the US.

Kiamco, meanwhile, downed world 9-Ball, 8-Ball champion Ralf Souquet of Germany, 9-5, to set up a showdown with reigning world 10-Ball champion Mika Immonen of Finland.

Immonen dominated American Dan Heidrich, 9-2.

Gomez, on the other hand, subdued Jason Klatt of Canada, 9-7, to arrange a clash with Thomas Engert of Germany, who beat former double world champion Ronnie Alcano, 9-6.

But while Corteza and company advanced, pool legend Efren “Bata” Reyes bowed out of the event after losing to American Johnny Archer, 9-5, in the losers’ side.

Toru Kuribayashi of Japan also booted out Jose Parica, 9-6, while Francisco “Django” Bustamante was relegated to the losers’ side after dropping a 9-1 loss to compatriot Edwin Montal.

Bustamante and Alcano hope to bounce back in the loser’s side, which includes Al Lapena, who lost to Mike Dechaine of the US, 9-3, and Dennis Orcullo, who bowed to Stan Tourangeau of Canada, 9-7.