BATA, DJANGO IN WORLD CUP OF POOL

FILIPINO billiards master Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante will banner the country’s bid when the 2009 PartyCasino.net World Cup of Pool gets underway on September 1 to 6 at the SM City North EDSA Mall in Quezon City.

Reyes and Bustamante, both legends in the sport, won the World Cup’s inaugural event in 2006 in Newport, South Wales after beating the pair of Earl “The Pearl” Strickland and Rodney “Rocket” Morris of the United States in the finals.

As host country, the Philippines will have two representative teams that include partners Reyes and Bustamante according to Luke Riches, spokesman of Matchroom Sport sent to this writer thru email. T other Filipino side will be announced in the near future, as will the players taking part from each nation.

Riches added that a total of 32 two-player teams from 31 countries competing for pool’s most prestigious team prize which offers $250,000 total prize fund.

The reigning champions are Rodney Morris and Shane Van Boening, who make up Team USA.

“Everyone, staff, players and crew, are delighted to be returning to the hotbed of world pool,” said Matchroom Sport chairman Barry Hearn.

‘The World Cup of Pool is a great venue for the Filipinos to shine once again in the world of sports. We are honored to be hosting this prestigious event in our country and thrilled that Solar Sports will be part of it,’ added Peter Chanliong, COO of Solar Sports.

Here’s the complete Teams

EUROPE

1. Austria 2. Belgium  3. Croatia  4. Denmark  5. England  6. Finland  7. France  8. Germany  9. Holland  10. Italy  11. Malta  12. Poland  13. Russia  14. Spain  15. Sweden

ASIA

16. China  17. Hong Kong  18. India  19. Indonesia  20. Japan  21. Korea  22. Malaysia  23. Philippines A  24. Philippines B  25. Singapore  26. Taiwan  27. Thailand  28. Vietnam

NORTH AMERICA

29. Canada  30. USA

OCEANIA

31. Australia

MIDDLE EAST

32. Qatar

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO.