Playing under the Negros Billiards Stable, Davaoeño Lee Van Corteza reached the finals of the 2nd BSCP National Pool Championships late last night following a hill-to-hill 11-10 win over Dennis Orcollo at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

Orcollo looked headed for a stirring come-from-behind victory, after recovering from a 7-9 deficit to reach the hill first but he missed the green six-ball in the 21st rack and left the ball open for Corteza, who made no mistake.

Corteza, who ousted Bacoleño Ramil Gallego, 9-5, in the quarterfinals, will meet Marlon Manalo at 5 p.m. today for the title and the P500,000 top purse. The 30-year-old Manalo of Puyat Sports raced to a 5-1 lead en route to an 11-5 win in the semifinals.

Manalo, fresh from a brief Euro Tour where he posted third place finishes in Switzerland and the Czech Republic won his opening match against Jimmy Cheng (9-2), Emilio Martinez (9-6) before losing to NBS' Godofredo Ducanes (6-9).

But Manalo recovered and scalped Jundel Mazon (9-3), Eduardo Villanueva (9-3), Jomar de Ocampo (9-5), Ronnie Alcano's conqueror, Joven Bustamante (9-4) and defending champion Alez Pagulayan (9-7).

Corteza bounced back from a 6-9 loss to Carlo Biado in the third round of winner's brackets by beating Rodrigo Geronimo (9-8), Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica (9-5), Jharome Peña (9-6), Ducanes (9-6) and Gallego to earn the right to face the erstwhile undefeated Orcollo. In the women's division Mary Ann Basas defeated Rubilen Amit, 7-4, to book a seat in the finals. Iris Ranola is playing Jingle David for the right to face Basas for the P200,000 prize. *CPT

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