Django topples Bata, Taiwanese

CARDIFF, Wales — It will be Francisco "Django" Bustamante, a grieving father, against Earl "The Pearl" Strickland, a stubborn competitor, in Sunday’s final of the 2002 World Pool Championship here.

Bustamante, whose baby daughter died of meningitis last Friday, won his third straight match since that tragic incident which, instead of dampening the spirit of the Filipino, seemed to have inspired him emotionally.

Bustamante defeated great friend and 1999 winner Efren "Bata" Reyes in the quarterfinals Saturday afternoon, 11-8, then returned later in the evening to oust Chinese-Taipei’s Chin-Shun Yang, 11-7, in the semis.

"I hope I can win it," said Bustamante, expected to board the first plane out of Cardiff, en route to Manila, after the final. Television commentators here said it’s been "so amazing" to see the RP cue artist stay on and compete.

Strickland, an American who loves to develop animosity with some fellow players and fans as well, strolled past a pair of Japanese masters — Kunihiko Takahashi (11-3) and Takeshi Okumura (11-5) — on the way to the final.

The champion wins $65,000 and the world title while the loser takes $30,000 and probably a lonely flight back home. Semifinal losers got $17,500 each while those who bowed out after the quarterfinals all received $8,000.

Bustamante, once regarded as the most powerful breaker in the pool circuit, went into his 7 p.m. (2 a.m. Monday in Manila) showdown against the two-time world champion with a great history of animosity between the two.

In the recent Motolite 9-Ball World Challenge in Manila, Strickland went a step too far when he accused Bustamante of messing up in his semifinal match against Takahashi, losing and leading to Strickland’s ouster.

Bustamante, also known in the pool circuit for his politeness and good manners, was none too pleased: "You can write it. Strickland’s a bad guy. He’s an animal. Even his fellow Americans doesn’t like him. I’ll hit him with a cue stick if he doesn’t stop talking."

But that recent incident all seemed to be water under the bridge now, especially after news broke out in Cardiff that Bustamante’s daughter Mariel, whom he considers as his "lucky child," had died back home.

Strickland, like the rest of the remaining competitors, showed up the following day with a tiny ribbon pinned on his shirt as a sign of respect to the child — and probably a peace offering to Bustamante.