BUSTAMANTE BEATS VAN DEN BERG TO SPEARHEADED TEAM ASIA INTO VICTORY

MANILA, PHILIPPINES—DESPITE the pressure must be building around a 1,000 people watching, Filipino Francisco “Django” Bustamante flashed his old deadly form beating Dutch Nick van den Berg, 5-2, in the deciding match to give Team Asia the title at the conclusion of Asia vs Europe 9-Ball Team Challenge at the Sutra Hall, Rizqun International Hotel in Gadong, Brunei Darussalam on Sunday.

The pride of Tarlac City Bustamante, who had lost two of his three matches, breaks and run-out in the fourth rack to level the count 2-all and never looked back winning the last three racks.

“Everyone here is happy and smiling because Team Asia won the title,” Bustamante said to his long-time benefactor sportsman/ businessman Aristeo “Putch” Puyat, acknowledge the Philippine Billiard’s God Father.

Over-all Team Asia were made up of Bustamante and Efren “Bata” Reyes of the Philippines, Ko Pin Yi and Lu Hui Chan of Taiwan and local bet Teo Chee Soon amazed a total 8-7 victory against Team Europe of Van den Berg and Niel Feijen of the Netherlands, Ralf Souquet of Germany, Ruslan Chinahov of Russia, Imran ‘The Maharaja’ Majid and Darren “Dynamite” Appleton of Great Britain, the 2008 World Ten Ball ruler.

No less than His Royal Highness Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, also a billiard player graces the closing rites.

The Filipino dynamic duo beat the pair of Souquet and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, 11-9, in 2009 to regain the World Cup they won during the inaugural staging in 2006 at the Newport, South Wales in England.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO