VILLAR CUP day 3 results

BAGUIO CITY – Francisco “Django” Bustamante got off to a strong start but needed an even stronger finish to end Rene Mar David’s giant-killing spree and advance into the finals of The Manny Villar Cup Panagbenga leg yesterday at the Events Center of SM City Baguio.

This as Roberto Gomez bounced back from three racks down to subdue Warren Kiamco, 10-8, to likewise move one step closer to the coveted crown and become the first two-time winner of this prestigious island-hopping series presented by Senator Manny Villar’s Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports.

Bustamante and Gomez were slated to play their title-match late yesterday.

Playing against the teenage phenom that stunned his bosom buddy, Efren “Bata” Reyes, in the second round, Bustamante came into the extra cautious and quickly jumped the gun on David, racing to a 4-1 lead.

But the 19-year-old former two-time World Juniors campaigner managed to crawl back in contention as he tied to match at 8-all.

“Magaling talaga ‘yang batang ‘yan saka matapang kaya hindi ako magtataka kung pagdating ng araw maging world champion ‘yan, magsipag lang s’ya at magtiyaga,” said the 44-yearold former world no.1 from Tarlac.

David, a pride of Candon, Ilocos Sur, had a chance to reach the hill first but his break of the 17^th rack went dry and, worse, left a wide open table for Bustamante to run out, which the latter did.

Bustamante then broke and ran out the next frame to seal the victory and move to within a win of pocketing the P300,000 top purse at stake in this three-day event sponsored by Camella Communities.

“Matagal ko nang hinahangad itong Villar Cup, at ngayong nakalapit na ako dito, ibubuhos ko ang lahat para makuha ito,” added Bustamante, who won over Lee Van Corteza, 9-6, in the quarterfinals.

David, who ruled the Bulacan leg’s Sipag at Tiyaga division last year, made it to the Final Four after trouncing fellow Bugsy boy Egie Geronimo, 9-4.

Meanwhile, in a match pitting one-time leg winners from last year, Gomez recovered from a 6-3 deficit and outlasted Kiamco down the stretch to move just a win away from duplicating his title-run in Davao last August.

Before beating Kiamco, the Alabang leg champion, Gomez, the 29-year-old native of Zamboanga City , demolished former double world champion Ronnie Alcano, 9-1, in the quarterfinals. He had earlier blasted Jharome Pena, 9-7, and Mike Takayama 9-1.

Kiamco advanced into the semis after slipping past former world no.1 Dennis Orcollo, 9-7.

by: press release