Reyes, Bustamante offer World Cup stint to Cory

MANILA, Philippines - Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante have always had fond memories of the late former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino that the two billiards icons are dedicating their stint in the forthcoming Party Casino World Cup of Pool to the hero of the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution.

The World Cup of Pool featuring 32 teams from 31 countries will take place on Sept. 1 to 6 at the SM North Edsa Annex, and this early, Reyes and Bustamante, who teamed up to rule the inaugural staging of the event in 2006 in Newport, Wales, are looking at Aquino as their inspiration.

“This will be for our President Cory Aquino. I knew her and I had the chance to talk to her a few times because we shared the Time Magazine award,” said Reyes of the former President, who was on top of the distinguished list of awardees in Time Magazine’s 60 Years of Asian Heroes in 2006.

“I take my hat off to her for the way she fights for what she believes in,” added the 54-year-old Reyes of Aquino who passed away last Aug. 1 due to colon cancer.

For his part, Bustamante, pushing 46, said she knew Aquino as his provincemate from Tarlac.

“That’s why I’m proud of her, too. She’s from Tarlac and I’m from Tarlac. We will honor her with our stint in this tournament. And whoever wins among us, I will be proud,” added Bustamante in yesterday’s press launch of the event at the Makati office of Solar Entertainment, the producer.

As host, the Philippines is allowed to field two teams, and will have former World 9-Ball champion Ronnie Alcano and money-game king Dennis Orcollo as the other tandem. There’s a very strong chance that the two RP teams will cross paths in the semis of the event offering a total purse of $250,000.

Solar Entertainment chief executive officer Peter Chanliong said the breakdown of the cash prizes is still being finalized but added that the winning pair will take home around $60,000. He said he’s hoping that the Philippines can regain the crown won by China in 2007 and the US in 2008.

Reyes, also a former World 9-Ball champion, is in the twilight of his career, and despite some troubled vision is looking forward to another big win for the Philippines.