Bata, Django go for 3rd World Cup title

Cedelf P. Tupas

 Philippine Daily Inquirer

 

Efren Reyes posing with fan after he won a historic US$200,000 at the 2005 IPT King of the Hill Shootout

              MANILA, Philippines—Just how comfortable is Efren “Bata” Reyes with 

              Francisco “Django” Bustamante?

              So comfortable that he can joke about his bosom buddy even without him around    If you make it to the Hall of Fame, you’re game deteriorates,” Reyes said         

              with a laugh.

              Reyes, of course, was referring to the entry of Bustamante, the reigning              

              World 9-Ball champion, in the Billiards Hall of Fame in June. “Bata” made    

              it to the  elite roster earlier in 2003.

              With a partnership built on confidence in each other’s game, the two   

              legends will defend the PartyPoker.Net World Cup of Pool crown against 

              31 other international pairs next month at Robinson’s Place Midtown in  

              Manila.

              Reyes and Bustamante, who also topped the maiden edition of the event 

              in 2006,   ruled the tournament last year by stunning Germany’s Thorsten            

              Hohmann and Ralf Souquet, 11-9, in an enthralling final at the SM North.

              Dennis Orcollo, who reached the semifinals together with Ronnie Alcano,      

              last year will have a new partner in 2007 WPC finalist Roberto Gomez in the other Philippine team.

“We were surprised we won last year. It’s not going to be easy defending the title,” said Reyes during a recent press launch of the event at the Solar Century Tower in Makati.

Chinese-Taipei aces Ko Pin-yi and Chang Jung-lin, Englishmen Daryl Peach and Karl Boyes and the German pair of Souquet and Oliver Ortmann lead the foreign charge in the $250,000 event which dangles a $60,000 purse for the champion duo.