Billiards: Bustamante is All Japan 9-Ball champion
November 17, 2009 9:20 am
By Lily O Ramos
MANILA, Nov. 16 — Francisco “Django” Bustamante defeated compatriot Antonio “Nickoy” Lining, 11-7, in an all-Filipino finals to win the championship of the 2009 All Japan 9-Ball Championship at the Hotel New Archaic Hall in Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo, Japan on Sunday.
"Bustamante earned two million Yen (roughly P800,000," said his friend, International Master (IM) Marlon Bernardino of the former world's top-ranked pool player, who plays under the aegis of businessman/billiards sports patron Aristeo "Putch" Puyat.
The championship is Bustamante’s second major victory since taking the PartyCasino.net World Cup of Pool title before a jampacked crowd at the SM North Edsa Mall last September in partnership with fellow Puyat Sports ace, Efren “Bata” Reyes.
"Once again, congratulations Django! You have made every Filipino proud of your triumph," said RP billiards godfather Puyat.
Bustamante had to pass the eye of the needle before gaining a slot in the championship round. He had to beat last year’s World Pool Association junior champion Ko Pin-yi of Chinese-Taipei, 11-8, then countryman Warren “Warrior” Kiamco, 11-9, in the semifinals.
Japan-based veteran campaigner Eduardo “Tisoy” Saracho, Kiamko of Pasil, Cebu, added that Kiamco had a chance to tie the game at 10-all count, but he failed to sink the No. 1 ball in the 20th rack, thus, allowing Bustamante to escape with a narrow 11-9 victory in their semi-final duel.
Kiamco, member of the rising Negros Billiard Stable of businessman Jonathan Sy received one million Yen (roughly P400,000), while Lining and Kuo Po Cheng of Chinese-Taipei earned 500,000 Yen (roughly P200,000) each.
Bustamante's triumph came at the expense of some of the world's best players, including double world champions (WPA 9-ball and WPA 8-ball) Efren “Bata” Reyes and Ralf Souquet of Germany, former All-Japan champion Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza, ex-WPA 9-ball runner-up Chang Pei Wei of Chinese-Taipei, Hijikata Hayato and Keisuke Hanawa of the host country Japan, among others. (PNA)
DCT/LOR
Comments