DAVAO City's veteran internationalist Lee Vann Corteza bowed out of contention in the 49th Annual All Japan Championship 2016 after losing to defending champion Filipino Johann Chua, 8-11, in their Last 32 match at the Archaic Hall, Syowa-dori, Amagasaki City in Hyogo, Japan Tuesday, November 22.
The alternate-break match was close at the start with Chua leading, 5-4, and he went on to stretch his advantage to 9-5.
Corteza struggled but managed to win the 16th frame after Chua won another rack for a 10-6 edge.
The Dabawenyo fought back, winning two more racks to close the gap, 8-10. But that was the closest he could get as Chua was poised to move ahead in a bid to retain his title.
Efren "Bata" Reyes, for his part, advanced to the Last 16 by whipping Po-Cheng Kuo, 11-6. He, thus, joined compatriots Warren Kiamco, Jeffrey de Luna and Dennis Orcollo who also stayed alive after demolishing their respective opponents in the Last 32.
Kiamco of Cebu City subdued Yang Yong Jun of South Korea, 11-7, while De Luna defeated Ramil Gallego, 11-7, and Surigao native and former world champion Dennis Orcollo nipped Wu Kun Lin of Chinese Taipei, 11-9.
Filipino-Canadian Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan turned back Filipino Antonio "Nickoy" Lining, 11-6, while Jeffrey Ignacio bested Francisco "Django" Bustamante, 11-5, in the Last 64 only to fall at the hands of Finland's Mika Immonen, 11-6 in the Last 32.
The cuefest, sanctioned by the World Pool Association, stakes $17,7800 for the champion and $8,890 for the runner-up.
