Bata, Django shine as QC catches World

MANILA, Philippines—When pressure mounts, Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante shine.

The longtime pillars of local billiards won their singles matches Thursday as Team Quezon City-Philippines caught up with Team World, 6-6, at the end of regulation play in the QC Invasion: Quezon City-Philippines vs the World Grand Villards Showdown at the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City.

The 54-year-old Reyes bucked a shaky start to beat American Rodney Morris, 7-4, while Bustamante, 42, produced some magical shots to squeak past Indian Raj Hundal, 7-6.

Holding a built-in 5-4 edge after Wednesday’s matches, the international selection raised their lead to two after German Thorsten Hohmann subdued Warren Kiamco, 7-4, in a morning encounter.

Just when the visitors were ready to celebrate, however, Reyes and Bustamante struck to finally draw level after three days of the event presented by the Quezon City government and Senator Manny Villar’s Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports.
With both teams unable to post the required nine victories, the event organized by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines needs to go through extra matches to determine which side will take the $40,000 top purse.

The deciding matches pit Roberto Gomez against Yang Ching-shun of Chinese-Taipei followed by a team event featuring the foursome of Alex Pagulayan, Dennis Orcollo, Bustamante and Gomez against Mika Immonen, Wu Chia-ching, Yang and Hundal; and Orcollo against Charlie Williams.

BY: Roy Luarca