Django, Reyes win in WPA World 9-ball openers
DEFENDING World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) 9-ball champion Francisco “Django” Bustamante and former World 9-ball and 8-ball champion Efren “Bata” Reyes got off to good start in the opening round of the 2011 WPA World 9-Ball Championship at the Al Sadd Sports Club in Doha, Qatar on Saturday.
Bustamante, who plays for the Puyat Sports of sportsman/businessman Aristeo “Putch” Puyat, opened his title-retention bid by beating countryman Caneda Villamor, 9-7, in Group D.
Reyes, also from Puyat Sports, chalked up a come-from-behind 9-8 victory over Mark Gray of Great Britain in Group A.
Bustamante raced to a 5-2 lead before Villamor cut the lead to 5-6 in the race-to-9, alternate break format tournament.
Bustamante managed to go up 8-7 late in the game with Villamor challenging him in a safety battle. Then, facing what looked to be a sure safety play for Villamor, Bustamante pulled off a magical shot when he hit a full table kick on the 6-ball, which collided with the 9 and sent the winning ball into the side pocket for the victory.
It appeared to be a lucky shot, but Bustamante said he saw the possibility and went for it.
“I tried to make that 9-ball,” Bustamante said.
When asked if he was surprised at how good his unknown opponent played, the Hall of Famer responded, “don’t forget, he’s a Filipino. All Filipinos play good. I’m just happy to win because now there’s not too much pressure.”
Reyes, on the other hand, had to go through a 1-rack decider to down Gray.
Gray tied the match at 8-all off a poor safety by Reyes in rack 15. Reyes, though, sank a ball on his break, then coolly ran the rack for the close victory.
With the victories, the two legendary Filipinos moved to the winners side of their group and need just one win to move into the knockout stage of 64.
Other results saw Filipino Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo of Perry Mariano’s Bugsy Promotions beating Andrew Kong of Hongkong, 9-4, in Group A. Carlo “Cool” Biado, also from Bugsy, crushed Petri Makkonen of Finland in Group D.
Antonio “Ga-Ga” Gabica yielded to Chris Melling of Great Britain, 8-9, in Group B while Roberto “Pinoy Superman” Gomez bowed to Manuel Gama of Portugal, 8-9, in Group E. /Correspondent Marlon Bernardino
