Reyes stays on track

FILIPINO billiards legend Efren “The Magician” Reyes advanced to the next round following an 11-9 win over Germany’s Thorsten Hohmann in the third round of the 37th Annual US Open 9-Ball Championships held in Holiday Inn Virginia Beach - Norfolk Convention Center in Virginia.

Coming from an 11-0 win over Bobby Petrocelli n the second round, Reyes needed all the steady nerve in his body before sending Hohmann to the one-loss bracket.

He will be facing an even tougher opponent on the next round – defending champion
Darren Appleton of Great Britain.

Four other Pinoys joined Reyes in the next round in the winners’ bracket, while Francisco Bustamante crashed out.

Dennis Orcollo sneaked past Mark Gray of Britain 11-7 in Round 3 and will be facing American Mike Davis next, while Alex Pagulayan will arranged a match with Daryl Peach after beating fellow Filipino Santos Sambajon, 11-9, in Round 3.

Jose Parica defeated Donny Mills 11-9 and will be facing India’s Raj Hundal next and Ronato Alcano will play Finland’s Mika Immonen after surviving Spain’s David Alcaide, 11-10, in his third-round assignment.

On the other hand, Bustamante is out of the $200,000-rich event after suffering an 11-10 loss to Cebuano Warren Kiamco.

Kiamco, who was relegated to the one-loss side as early as the second round, survived the grueling losers bracket following an 11-0 win over Jo Garcia, and an 11-6 win over American Mark Showalter before the showdown with Bustamante.

Kiamco is hoping to complete his comeback as he faces Alcaide next.

Also trying to stay alive in the losers bracket is Carlo Biado, who eliminated American Brett Stottlemyer following an 11-7 victory and will be facing China’s Dan Jin Hu next.

Cebuano Israel Rota also stayed alive after beating Ramon Mistica, 11-5. Mistica earlier beat Larry Faulk, 11-6, and Dany Mastermaker, 11-10 before his loss.