REYES, BUSTAMANTE, ALCANO, PARICA, CORTEZA AND KIAMCO IS IN ONE BRACKET
POOL MAESTRO Efren "Bata" Reyes landed in so called "Group of Death" composeD of top Filipino players when the longest running and prestigious 32nd Annual US Open 9-Ball got underway yesterday at the beautiful Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake Virginia.
According to Mike Howerton, owner of the official website AZbilliards.com, there are 223 players in the field with the winner taking home the top prize money of US$50,000 while the second and third placers gets US$25,000, and US$12,500, respectively.
Reyes, the 1999 Cardiff World 9-Ball Champion is in Winner's Side 3 along with Puyat Stablemate Francisco "Django" Bustamante, Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, Jose "Amang" Parica and Ronato "Volcano" Alcano.
Reyes opened his campaign against little known Jim Fairclotch, Bustamante on the other hand took on David Rowell, Corteza, the reigning national champion met Shawn Keaton, Kiamco, who won the 2007 US Bar Table 9-ball and 8-ball competition went against Georgio Margola while Parica, the leader of the Filipino invasion in the USA in mid 80's tested the mettle of John Harris, while Alcano, current WPA 9-Ball Champion and WPA 8-Ball Champion is up against Ryan Hersman.
Not to be outdone in Winner's Side 3 were European No.1 player Neils "The Terminator" Feijen of the Netherlands, and 2003 Cardiff World 9-Ball ruler Thorsten "The Hitman" Hohmann of Germany.
Winner's Side 2 saw last year's runner-up Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat and 2007 BCA Enjoypool.com winner Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo of the Philippines, defending US Open 9-ball champion John Schmidt, 2004 US Open 9-ball champion Gabe Owen and 1997 WPC winner Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer of the United States, 1996 WPC winner Ralf "Kaiser" Souquet of Germany.
The 28-year-old Orcollo, the most outstanding Quezon City athlete awardee begins his quest against Cliff Joyner while Luat is opposite Hunter Lombardo.
Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, and Edwin Montal bracketed in Winner's Side 4. Gallego, won thrice in Japan circuit this year takes on Marcus Juva of Finland while Montal got a bye to progress. Former US Open 9-ball champion Corey Deuel and IPT world 8-ball runner-up Rodney "Rocket" Morris of the host country also in Winner's Side 4.
Alex Pagulayan, the 2005 US Open 9-ball winner is the only Filipino campaigner in Winner's Side 1. The 28-year-old Cabagan, Isabela native takes on Carsten Due.
Interesting match up in Winner's Side 1 is the game between 2001 WPC winner Mika Immonen of Finland and Japan's No.1 player Naoyuko Oi. Early Winner in this group are Ernesto Dominguez, Frank Alvarez, Naohiro Kawabata, Harvey Shognosh, Mike Fisher, Randy Labonte, Chris Futrell, Mike Ricciardella, Tomoki Mikara, Eduardo Irizany, and Joey Korsiak.
After the US Open 9-Ball, the Filipino pool sharks are schedule to arrive in the country to compete in the P2 million first ever Manny Pacquiao International 9-Ball Open from October 24 to 27 (two venue) at the Hobbies of Asia Bldg. in Macapagal Avenue and SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City and the 2007 World Pool Championships on November 3 to 11 at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
(Report from MARLON BERNARDINO)
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