BATA, DJANGO OPENS BID IN ASIA VERSUS EUROPE MEN’S 9-BALL TODAY IN BRUNEI

MANILA, PHILIPPINES—FILIPINO dynamic duo Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante will seek to bring honor and glory for the Team Asia when the much awaited Asia versus Europe Men’s 9-Ball Team Challenge gets underway, today, January 15 to 17 at the Sutra Hall, Rizqun International Hotel in Brunei Darussalam.

Reyes and Bustamante, both playing under the banner of sportsman/ businessman Aristeo “Putch” Puyat will be joined by host’s Chee Soon Teo and Taiwanese Pin Yi Ko and Hui Chan Lu representing Team Asia in the event organized by the Brunei Darussalam Cue Sports Association, supported by the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports and sponsored by GHK Motors Sdn Bhd, sanctioned by Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU) and European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF).

“Sana muling pumabor ang bola sa akin para makatulong ako sa kampanya ng Team Asia,” said Reyes, who team up with Bustamante to beat the pair of Ralf Souquet and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, 11-9, in the final last year to regain the World Cup they won during the inaugural staging in 2006 at the Newport, South Wales in England.

” Para maganda din ang simula sa pagbubukas ng taon sa akin,” added Reyes, who pair with 2009 World Ten Ball women’s champion Rubilen “Bingkay” Amit to topped the 1st World MIxed Doubles Classic last November in Nuvo City, Libis, Quezon City.

The European team players will comprise of double world champion (WPA 9-ball and 8-ball) Ralf Souquet of Germany, 2008 World Ten Ball titlist Darren Appleton of Great Britain, Ruslan Chinakhov of Russia, Nick Van Den Berg and Niels Feijen of the Netherlands.

A total of US$45,000 prize money will be up for grabs with the team champion getting US$27,000, team runner-up (US$13,000), single match winner US$5,000 and US$500 per match x 10 matches.

Soon, who partnered with Brunei Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah for the men’s nine-ball doubles event at the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Laos last month, is currently ranked No. 2 in his country while the 2008 WPA Reno World Junior 9-ball champion Ko, nicknamed the Prince of Pool is currently ranked No. 1 in Asian Pocket Billiards Union ranking while compatriot Lu nicknamed “Whirlwind Kid” is currently ranked No. 15 in the world.

Souquet, on the other hand nicknamed The Kaiser and The Surgeon is currently ranked No 2 in world ranking while Feijen nicknamed The Terminator is currently ranked No 7.

van den Berg nicknamed El Nino is currently ranked No 40 and Appleton is currently ranked No 3 and Chinahov is currently ranked No 19 in the world.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO.