INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?An all-Filipino final looms in the 2nd World 10-Ball Championship after Lee Van Corteza and Antonio Lining advanced to the semifinals opposite different foreign rivals at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

The 30-year-old Corteza survived three energy-zapping matches, the last one coming at the expense of Li Hewen of China, 9-7, that gave him a seat in the semifinals.

The semifinals start at 2 p.m. Monday with the finals set at 6 p.m.

A member of the Negros Billiards Stable, Corteza shrugged off fatigue, and kept his focus even after playing a total of 33 racks in two knockout matches earlier.

Corteza rallied from a 2-7 deficit to beat Chang Yu-lung of Chinese-Taipei, 9-8, in the last 32. He took out Thomas Engert of Germany, 9-7, in the round of 16.

Corteza guns for a finals berth against Spain's David Alcaide, who ousted defending champion Darren Appleton of England, 9-6. Alcaide eliminated Filipino Dennis Orcollo, 9-6, in the round of 16.

A pool professional for more than 30 years, the 46-year-old Lining, whose only major crown was the all-Japan Championship eight years ago, moved closer to scoring the biggest win of his career when he booted out compatriot Warren Kiamco, 9-8.

Lining came back from 6-8 down to eliminate Kiamco, who defeated world 9-ball champion Daryl Peach in the round of 16. But Lining will have his hands full against Finland's Mika Immonen in the semifinals.

Immonen, who came into the tournament as arguably the most in-form player with victories in the US Open and the Galveston Classic, prevailed over Russia's Ruslan Chinakhov, 9-6.

With the victories, Lining and Corteza are assured of $15,000 allotted for semifinalists. The champion will receive a $60,000 while the runner-up will go home with $30,000.