MANILA - Keeping the Filipinos’ hope alive for another hometown victory, Lee Van Corteza proved to have nerves of steel and bucked the odds and the pressure to survive the hot rally of Spaniard David Alcaide on Monday at the WPA World Ten-Ball Championships in Pasay City.

Corteza booked his ticket to the finals versus Mika Immonen of Finland set to happen after a short 15-minute break from his breath-taking semi-final win.

Corteza took the early lead in the match as he went up 3-1, then eventually in command halfway through at 5-2.

But the Spaniard was not to be outdone in his best performance in a world championship tournament to date, taking the 8th and 9th rack to put pressure on the Filipino 5-4.

Corteza took the 10th rack but Alcaide came back with a bit of luck as the 10-ball showed early in the 11th rack and Alcaide easily sank a 2-10-balls combo for the rack that kept him close again at 6-5. In the ensuing rack Corteza missed a crucial safety on the 3-ball and Alcaide took advantage to tie the match at 6, then taking the lead at 7-6.

With 2 racks away from victory, Alcaide had a fairly easy shot on the 6-ball in the 14th rack but missed once again opening the door for Corteza.

The 30-year-old Davao native did not let the opportunity slip away as he tied the match at 7-all.

The next 2 racks consisted of great breaks and clean sweeps as the lone Filipino remaining in the tournament took the match at 9-7 to the delight of the hometown crowd.

Win or lose in the final, Corteza is guaranteed a $30,000 prize for 2nd place as he and Immonen will slug it out in a race-to-11 final for the grand prize of $60,000 and the title of World Ten Ball Champion for 2009.