Orcollo, Corteza bring back World Cup of Pool title to Philippines

Dennis Orcollo and Lee Vann Corteza File Photo

MANILA, Philippines – Dennis Orcollo and Lee Vann Corteza brought the World Cup of Pool title back to the Philippines after edging Holland’s pair of Niels Feijen and Nick Van den Berg in a thriller, 10-8, Monday (Manila time) at York Hall in Bethnal Green in London.

The Filipinos, who nipped the Taiwanese tandem of Chang Jung-lin and Ko Pin-yi in the semifinal round, pounced on late blunders by the Dutch.

The Dutch were primed to go on the hill, 9-7, but Feijen missed a tough shot on the eight-ball as the Filipinos went on to knot the score at 8 in their race to 10 final.

After cleaning the table off a fine break in rack 17, Orcollo broke for the match but this time came up empty as the Dutch were given another opportunity. Van den Berg though, blew their chance after missing on the four-ball.

It wasn’t an easy layout for the Philippines but it didn’t serve as a hurdle for them to get the job done as Orcollo and Corteza clinched the country’s third World Cup of Pool title.

“The fans here were [the reason] why we won. There was a lot of pressure and things became very difficult but the Filipino community in London who supported us throughout really helped us through,” the 34-year-old Orcollo told matchroompool.com.

“I reached the final of the World Cup in Manila in 2010 but we came up short so it is fantastic to win here in London. I would love it for me and Lee Vann to defend the World Cup in the Philippines next year as it would be a dream come true to win it again in our home country,” Orcollo added. Orcollo and Roberto Gomez lost to China, 5-10, in the finals three years ago.

The Filipinos, who won the 2006 and 2009 title led by legendary cue artists Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante, also took home $60,000.