DJANGO, ALEX, BEBENG ADVANCE INTO LAST 64
FRANCISCO "DJANGO" BUSTAMANTE, Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan and Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego posted back to back contrasting victories yesterday to advance into last 64 of the Philippine World Pool Championship at the Big Dome.
The power-breaking Bustamante from Tarlac City beat South African Zbynek Vaic, 9-4, and Korean Jeong Young-hwa, 9-0, to be assured of $2,000 in the knock-out round of 64.
"Gusto ko talaga ang winner's break format. Kahit makalamang kalaban mo may pagkakataon ka pang makahabol at manalo. Y'ung alternate break para nakakalamig eh," said the 43-year-old Bustamante who emerge over-all champion in the 2007 UPA Pro Tour this year in Los Angeles, California to book his seat in the main draw which offers $100,000 to the champion.
It showed in the stats. Bustamante, the 2002 World Pool runner-up piled up seven run outs and only let Jeong back in the table once during his juggernaut.
The former world No. 1 made it past the group play for the ninth straight year in the tournament organized by Matchroom and Raya Sports and televised worldwide over ESPN.
The 29-year-old Fil-Canadian Pagulayan, the 2004 WPC champion, also made his presence felt early with a 9-0 win over Hamsa Mohammaed of Eritrea, a little known country in Europe. He clinched a spot in the knockout phase with a 9-6 win over Martin Kempter of Austria .
"Marami pang magsalita pero maglalaro lang ako," said Pagulayan, who topped the Japan 9-Ball Open, Cebu 9-Ball Open this year.
Gallego, took the measure of Chan Ken Kwang of Singapore, 9-4, and reigning Guinness Asian 9-ball tour over-all winner Chang Jung-ling of Taiwan, 9-1.
However, there were also setbacks for Filipinos.
Lee Vann Corteza, current National Open champion suffered a shocking 7-9 defeat to Serbia 's Goran Mladenovic. The top player of the Negros Billiards stable had a chance to reach the hill first but missed an easy shot on the green six, leaving an open table and giving his opponent an 8-7 lead.
He sealed his doom on the following frame with a scratch after pocketing the sixth ball. Antonio "Nickoy" Lining also bowed to Jeong in a 8-9 decision. Lining, from Pinamalayan, Oriental, Mindoro led 7-1 to 8-3 before Jeong clustered six straight racks. Lining curve a 9-1 demolition win against Vaic but succumbed to ex-US Open winner Corey "The Prince" Duel, 9-7, in their do or die match last night.
Meanwhile, former World 9-ball champion Oliver "The Machine" Ortmann of Germany beat Duel, 9-6, to progress. Mika "The Iceman" Immonen of Finland also advance into last 64 after beating Jeremy Jones of the United States, 9-7.
Corteza, on the other hand beat Taiwanese Pei Wei Chang, 9-4, to arrange a do or die match with Jones last night.
Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica, the 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball gold winner capped a perfect day for Filipinos on the opening day after trouncing Malaysian Ibrahim Bin Amir, 9-6, in a knockout match. All four Filipinos who saw action Saturday advanced to the next round that include Efren "Bata" Reyes (1999), Ronato "Volcano" Alcano (2006) and Joven "The Shark" Bustamante.
Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo, Jefrrey "The Bull" de Luna, and Leonardo "Dodong Dadiangas" Andam are schedule to play today, Monday in their group matches.
(Report from MARLON BERNARDINO)
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