Bata, Bustamante to seek titles

ANGELES CITY -- Filipino billiard master Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante will again be seeking titles at the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) World 9-Ball Championship on June 22 to 29 at the Al Sadd St. Sports Roundabout, Doha, Qatar.

The two grizzled veterans of Philippine pool playing under the banner of Puyat Sports will take center stage anew and carry the country’s colors in one of the biggest billiards tournament of the year.

Reyes, Angeles City’s pride and one of the oldest players in the circuit, is a two-time world champion and is eyeing to become the only Filipino player to win a triple crown.

Reyes, 57, and compatriot Ronato "Volcano" Alcano have already won the World 8-Ball and World 9-Ball crowns, and one of them has a chance to become the winningest Pinoy in the world pool scene.

The 48-year-old Tarlac native Bustamante, on the other hand, won the World 9-Ball crown here in Doha two years ago to follow the footsteps of Reyes (1999, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom), Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan (2004, Taipei, Taiwan) and Alcano (2006, Manila, Philippines).

"We have a very good chance of winning again the World 9-ball crown," said PH billiards godfather Aristeo "Putch" Puyat, longtime supporter of Reyes, Bustamante and Pagulayan.

American Earl "The Pearl" Strickland is the winningest player by winning the World 9-Ball crown thrice (1990, Bergheim, Germany), (1991, Las Vegas, United States) and (2002, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom).

Another US bet Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer (1992, Taipei, Taiwan), (1997, Chicago, United States) and Taiwanese Chao Fong-pang (1993, Konigswinter, Germany) and (2000, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom), both won twice.

Japanese Yukio Akagariyama toppled Alcano in the last edition here in Doha.

Up for grabs in the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) and Qatar Billiards & Snooker Federation (QBSF) event is a total cash prize fund of $250,000 with $36,000 going to the champion.