Bata, Django cherish honor to play for flag

BUSAN– For world billiards champions Efren "Bata" Reyes and Francisco "Django" Bustamante, just to be able to play and win medals for the country is already a big honor.

That’s the reason they’re grateful to the officers of the billiards association and the Philippine Olympic Committee for including them on the Philippine delegation to the 14th Asian Games here.

But quite a big number of sportsmen, fans and even a member of the billiards team who refused to be identified have expressed dissatisfaction with the playing assignments given to Reyes and Bustamante here.

Reyes, the former world 9-ball pool champion, was tapped to play only in the 8-ball singles and 3-cushion carom singles events, and Bustamante in 9-ball doubles together with Antonio Lining.

"Why can’t we take full advantage of the presence of Bata and Django?" asked a teammate, who can’t seem to agree with the decision of coach Ricardo Ancaja to make the world champs play only in three events. "Hangga’t magaling at malakas sila (Bata at Django), dapat palaruin sila sa lahat ng pool events."

This was the same sentiment aired by some Filipino coaches and officials in other events as well as countless sportslovers from all over the country who emailed the RP delegation office here.

"Sino ang tatalo kay Bata at Django sa 9- at 8-ball dito?" wondered their fellow player. "Kung sila ang magsasama sa double event, makakawala pa ba ang gold?"

Even a popular coach of a popular team was surprised to find out that Ryes and Bustamante have been assigned limited events,

"This is our chance to win at least three gold medals in billiards. Why let the chance slip away," the coach asked as he heard an Indian cue artist tell Bata Saturday night that he’s so happy to learn Reyes was not playing in 9-ball.

As far as Bata and Django are concerned, however, they’re "good soldiers who just follow the officers’ order."

"Yun lang ang gusto nilang laruin namin, okay lang," said Bata, adding: "Kawawa din naman ang ibang kasama namin kung di sila makakalaro. Matagal na raw silang nag-eensayo.

"Masaya na ako at honored dahil napili akong maglaro at ako ang ginawang standard bearer," said Django. "This is my first time, and I’m really enjoying it. Ang dami mong kasamang mga atleta mula sa ibang bansa."

Reyes and Bustamante both acknowledge that the Chinese-Taipei bets will be their toughest rivals. They made special mention of the current Taiwanese champion, Chang Sing Yang, who is only in his mid-twenties.

"He’s sharp and talented. Hindi puwedeng biruin," the two chorused.

The 48-year-old Reyes said it would be difficult winning in 3-cushion. "Wala akong ensayo diyan. Mas malaki ang table dito (5 x 10) kaysa sa table sa atin (4-1/2 x 9)," Japanese and Korean players, Reyes stressed, are the best in 3-cushion.

"Malaki ang pag-asa natin sa 8-ball. Five times akong champion diyan sa US, apat sa Las Vegas," added Bata. "pero pag hindi tayo binigyan ng break kahit magaling tayong mag-break, mahirap manalo."

Django, acknowledged as the world’s best when it comes to breaking, agreed. "Kahit magaling at malakas ang break mo, pag walang pumasok, wala kang magagawa," said the 38-year-old Bustamante, who was formerly based in Germany.

Reminded that juicy incentives await the individual medalists as well as the registered coach, Reyes said "baka ‘yan pa ang dahilan kaya gusto ng lahat na makalaro. Pag wala sigurong incentive, baka mabigyan kami ng chance makalaro sa lahat ng pool events."

Based on the incentives law signed this year by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Asian Games gold medalist will get P1 million while his coach, who has to show proof that he’s handling him for at least one year, is entitled to a 50 percent equivalent of the award.

Samsung, a supporter of the RP team, is also offering P500,000 to every gold winner.