Philippine billiards icon Francisco “Django” Bustamante once again scaled the zenith of world billiards after he emerged tournament champion last Sunday (Philippine Time) in the 2012 Derby City Classic Fatboy 10-Ball Challenge held at the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel in Elizabeth, Indiana, USA.
Bustamante, one of the top players of Puyat Sports, manhandled American Steve Moore in the championship match, 15-5, to run away with the title.
Sportsman/businessman Aristeo “Putch” Puyat hailed the victory of Bustamante saying it is proof that Filipino players are at par if not the best in the world.
“Once again our flag has been raised in the foreign land after our kababayan (Francisco) Bustamante won the 2012 Derby City Classic Fat Boy 10-Ball Challenge in Indiana, USA,” Puyat said.
Bustamante jumped to a, 2-0 lead and only a scratch on the 10-ball in the third rack kept him from taking a 3-0 advantage. Moore came back to tie the score at 2-2 and was close at 3-4 down before Bustamante found the zone and rolled off nine straight games for an insurmountable, 13-3 lead.
Moore was 3-13 down when Bustamante broke dry, which seemed to trouble the Filipino world champion as Moore won the rack. The players swapped racks for a, 14-5 Bustamante lead.
Finally, Moore threw in the towel after a scratch on the break in the 20th rack.
Earlier, Bustamante bested 2012 Derby City Classic Bank Division champion John Morra of Canada, 15-5, in the semi-final round to arrange a titular showdown with Moore who brought down Alex Pagulayan of the Philippines, 15-12.
Bustamante went home with the top prize worth $12,000 while Moore settled for a runner-up prize of $7,000. Pagulayan and Morra received $3,500 each for reaching the semifinal round.