Django halts Bata for Japan pool title

MANILA, Philippines - Former world No. 1 Francisco “Django” Bustamante defeated compatriot Efren “Bata” Reyes, 9-7, in an all-Filipino final to pocket the 23rd Japan 9-Ball Open crown in Tokyo, Japan last Sunday.

Bustamante earlier disposed of another Filipino, Jeffrey de Luna to arrange a title duel with Reyes, who subdued Japanese Toru Kuribayashi in the other semis match.

The power-breaking Bustamante won P675,000 in winning his first major title this year although it was his second Japan Open victory after topping the annual event in 2002.

The other Filipinos who won the Japan 9-ball Open were Ramil Gallego (2009), Dennis Orcollo (2008), Alex Pagulayan (2007), Antonio Lining (2006) and Reyes (2005).

Last November, Bustamante defeated Lining, 11-7, in another all-Filipino final to win the All Japan 9-Ball Championship at the Hotel New Archaic Hall in Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo, Japan.