Orcollo, Django vow to regain W Cup title

Reigning world No.1 Dennis Orcollo and Francisco “Django” Bustamante left yesterday for Holland, confident of their chances in the 2008 PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool which gets going tomorrow in Rotterdam.

The Filipino duo will be trying to reclaim the crown won by Bustamante and pool icoin Efren “Bata” Reyes in 2006 from the defending champions Fu Jian Bo and Li He-wen of China.

“I like our chances,” said Orcollo. “Although this is the first time that Django and I will be teaming up, we’re very much familiar with each other. I know his style, he knows mine, so I think we could easily jell.”

With Orcollo’s talent and Bustamante’s experience, the Philippines will be one of the teams to watch in the annual event, which attracts the world’s top cue masters.

“Dennis is the best player in the world today, and with his talent, coupled by my experience, I think we have a very strong chance to win this tournament again,” said Bustamante.

“You are two of the greatest cue artists in the world, and our nation looks at you as heroes. We believe that you can win that World Cup of Pool and once again make our country proud,” said Sen. and pool patron Manny Villar.

Orcollo and Bustamante, whose campaign is also supported by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP), will compete against 31 other pairs from around the world in the tournament that offers a total prize fund of $250,000 (P11.75-million), including the champion purse of $60,000.

As No.2 seed, just behind the defending champions, the Filipino tandem will open their bid opposite Denmark, bannered by Martin Larsen and Kasper Kristoffersen.

The other countries competing in the tournament are Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysian, Chinese-Taipei, Thailand, Vietnam, Canada, the United States, Australia, Peru, Qatar, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Malta, Poland, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, and two teams from the host nation.

Orcollo, a stalwart of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions, has already won four major tournaments this year – the San Miguel Beer-Quezon City 9-Ball Championship, the All-Japan Open, the 2008 Qatar International 9-Ball Open and China leg of the 2008 Guinness Tour. He is also set to compete in the Guinness Tour Grand Finals late this month in Jakarta.

Both Orcollo and Bustamante of Puyat Sports are also part of the eight-man Filipino squad seeing action in the much-anticipated Q.C. Invasion: Quezon City-Philippines vs the World Grand Billiards Showdown on Dec. 2-4 at the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City.