Bata, two others enter quarterfinal

Efren "Bata" Reyes carried the fight for the Philippines yesterday as he towed two of his countrymen into the quarterfinals of the San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour at the cold and jampacked Pearl Plaza billiards hall in Parañaque City.

Reyes, the 1999 world champion slowly creating some ripples in the movie scene, won twice yesterday, eating up Eddie Ang Kee Tian of Singapore, 9-1, shortly before lunch before surviving Mohammad Junarto of Indonesia, 9-8, later in the afternoon.

The 48-year-old Reyes, however, was left with the painful task of having to beat teammate Antonio Lining today, the last day of the tour’s Manila leg, if he is to move on to the semis and get a shot at the whopping $20,000 (at least P1 million) top prize.

Lining made it to the quarterfinals with victories over Ibrahim Bin Amir of Malaysia (9-6) and Chatchawal Rutphae of Thailand (9-2). Also advancing on the RP side was Warren Kiamco who got past Freddie Soh Chye Hian of Singapore (9-5) and William Ipaenen of Indonesia (9-4).

But three Filipinos getting past the opening day was no reason to celebrate afterall, as Francisco "Django" Bustamante, easily expected to sail on, met his match early against Chang Pei Wei, a promising 24-year-old cue artist from Taipei, 7-9.

The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for the 39-year-old Bustamante who hardly took a seat in a 9-1 win over Hong Kong’s Fung Kwok Wai in the tournament’s opening match only to fall a couple of hours later.

"Malas talaga. Masama ang sargo. Tapos siya naman, bawat sargo, nakabungad sa butas ang nine ball," said Bustamante moments after the loss, which fortunately, didn’t have any effect on his forthcoming stint in the World Pool Championships in Cardiff, Wales, in July.

"Okay lang. Talagang ganyan at mabuti na lang ay seeded ako sa Cardiff," added the power-breaking Filipino who figured a dramatic finals against American Earl "The Pearl" Strickland last year at the WPC.