Thursday, June 19, 2008 Bustamante, Orcollo aim for Villar Cup pool title
FRANCISCO "Django" Bustamante and Dennis Orcollo hope to live up to their tag as the only Filipinos to top the world rankings when they compete in the Elite Professional Division of the first Senate President Manny Villar Cup Cebu Leg starting on Friday at the Atrium of SM City in Cebu City.
They are also looking this tournament, presented by Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports, in partnership with the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) and Sun.Star Superbalita 9-Ball Challenge, as a springboard in their quest to finally become a world champion.
"That's my ultimate goal -- to become a world champion," said Bustamante, who finished runner-up to American Earl Strickland in the World Pool Championship in 2002, the year he first became World's No. 1.
"I have to build some sort of a momentum, and that includes winning tournaments like this Villar Cup. So I will make the most out of this, and hopefully I would win it," he added.
Bustamante will be seeing action in the Villar Cup for the first time, having missed the series' first leg last month in Alabang as he competed in the World Pool Masters in Las Vegas.
The same goes for Orcollo, the current World No. 1, who also feels his time has come to finally hoist a world title.
"I will use this Villar Cup as a stepping stone in achieving my dream," said the 29-year-old stalwart of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions of businessman Perry Mariano, who is also known as the Money-Game King of the Philippines.
That tag he once again proved last Monday when the trounced four-time Guinness Tour leg winner Chang Jung-lin of Taiwan, 13-5, in a challenge match with a wager of US$2,500.
But both Bustamante and Orcollo know that realizing their hopes of winning the Villar Cup would be such a tall order as all of the country's world-class cue artists plus a horde of upcoming stars are vying for it. P400,000 cash prize awaits the winner in the tournament.
Besides the two, the other players competing in the event are former world titlists Efren "Bata" Reyes, Ronnie Alcano and Alex Pagulayan; 2007 World Pool runner-up Roberto Gomez; reigning national champion Lee Van Corteza; former Asian Games gold medalist Gandy Valle; and Villar Cup opening leg winner Warren Kiamco.
Meanwhile, actions in the Class B division got underway late Monday with 2006 Sun.Star SuperBalita 9-Ball Challenge champion Darrel Abaquita leading the charge.
Abaquita led the pack of the future Cebuano billiard stars as he made a strong start by booting out Andres Abay in a score of 7-4 in the elimination round.
Also moving into the next round are Achilles Navarra, who beat Keith Manayon, 7-1; Dave Dica, who blasted Cesar Kiamco, 7-3; Fredy Tuastumban, who subdued Christian Flores, 7-4; Kirby Ybañez, who downed Junior Bungo, 7-4; Joemarie Himalaya, who won over Mark Gregory Gestopa, 7-6; and Edwin Barinaga, who edged Rey Rodolfo, 7-6. (JRDB/Sunnex)
