Alex, Django wiped out in Derby Classic

Alex Pagulayan and Francisco “Django” Bustamante suffered stinging setbacks and dropped out of contention in the 2008 Derby City Classic topped by former champion Larry Price at the Executive West Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky Monday.

Pagulayan’s amazing run of victories ended in the 10th round when he lost to Glenn Rogers and the Fil-Canadian former world pool champion failed to recover from that setback and dropped his match to Efren Reyes’ tormentor Tony Fergerson in round 11 to bow out of the title race.

Bustamante, who rallied with a string of victories after a first round loss, succumbed to Michael Surber, also in the 11th round, as the two RP bets reached only the Final 9 stage of the event which drew some 450 players from around the world.

Price drew a bye in the Final 3 then beat Sylver Ochoa, 5-3, in the first game. Ochoa drew level with a 5-1 rout in Game Two but Price took the third match, 5-2, to regain the lead.

Price then broke out of a 3-3 match in the fourth game, winning a battle of safeties before pocketing the final two balls for the win, his second in six years.

Price earned $10,000 for the victory while Ochoa settled for $5,000.

Meanwhile, Pagulayan, Bustamante and Reyes hurdled their first round assignments in the Derby City Classic One Pocket tournament Monday, also at the Executive West Hotel.

Pagulayan whipped Jack McPherson to arrange a second round clash with Harry Platis; Bustamante won over Jason Miller and will take on Charles Bryant in round 2 while Reyes subdued Dave Biggers and will face Dave Wagner next.

Others winning their first round matches were Jose Parica, who beat Scott Cohen, and Santos Sambajon, who trounced Louis DeMarco Sr.