Bustamante, Reyes
join Japan 9-ball event
By Marlon Bernardino
Cebu Daily News

FILIPINO billiards aces Francisco "Django" Bustamante and Efren "Bata" Reyes left for Japan Sunday to see action in the Tokyo 9-Ball tournament starting Tuesday.

Bustamante and Reyes will first play in an exhibition game in Nagoya before proceeding to Saitama City for the 2003 edition of the Tokyo tournament.

Thirty of the best pool players in the world are seeing action in the event which has a total purse of 15,000 dollars.

"Dito na lang kami babawi sa 9-ball Tour sa Japan ni Efren (We'll do better in the 9-ball Tour in Japan)," said the 38-year-old Bustamante, apparently referring to the loss that the Philippine pool masters suffered last week in Mandaluyong City.

American Johnny Archer beat Bustamante, 13-10, in the On Cue 2 billiards tournament finals Friday night and pocketed the 20,000-dollar top purse. Bustamante took home the 10,000-dollar second place prize while Reyes failed to reach the quarterfinals.

Puyat Sports chief Aristeo "Putch" Puyat, the acknowledged godfather of Philippine billiards, said he is optimistic that Reyes and Bustamante will perform well in Japan.

Apart from Bustamante and Reyes, also competing are Johnny Archer of the US, Ralf Souquet of Germany and Charlie "The Korean Dragon" Williams, also of the US.

Qualifying rounds for the meet will take place from November 4 to 6 at Eagle Koshigaya, also in Saitama.

The Final 4 matches will be broadcast on Saitama TV, which covers the entire Tokyo area.