Thursday, August 24, 2006
Bata, Django crush Malta pair
EFREN "Bata" Reyes and Francisco "Django" Bustamante, one cool and calculating and the other armed with a thunderous break, crushed Tony Drago and Alex Borg of Malta in the first round Wednesday of the World Cup of Pool in Newport, South Wales.
Reyes and Bustamante, the 1-2 punch of Philippine billiards, needed just 50 minutes in fashioning out the 9-0 victory and sending warning to all competing country's of their serious campaign in the event that offers $60,000 to the team champion.
Malta won the lag, but that was the only positive note the team had in the entire match as the Filipino pair executed flawless shotmaking and pounced on every error by its rivals.
"Hard to believe but me and Efren never practice in the Philippines, but we know what's going on and understand each other on the table," Bustamante said.
Reyes and Bustamante, seeded No. 1 in the tournament, play 16th seed Malayia in the next round. Malaysia earned a place in the second round after drubbing unseeded Qatar, 9-3, in one of the first round matches.
Drago, the World Pool Masters winner, said he expects the Philippines to go all the way and win the tournament where a total of 32 nations are entered.
"These guys are so good and we have just played two of the greatest players of all time," Drago said.
Taiwan, seeded fifth, likewise advanced following a 9-6 win over India, while England B made up of Steve Davis and Daryl Peach barged into the next round after surviving a tough Korean team, 9-6.
Other early results saw Canada beating Thailand, 9-5, and Czech Republic winning over Poland, 9-6. (CRAM)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (August 24, 2006 issue)
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