Django tapped for BCA Hall of Fame

MANILA, Philippines - Reigning world 9-ball champion Francisco “Django” Bustamante has been elected for induction into billiards’ Hall of Fame, becoming the second Filipino to be included in the elite Meritorious Service roster of the prestigious Billiards Congress of America.

In voting conducted by the United States Billiard Media Association in Broomfield Colorado, Bustamante emerged the top vote getter with 56 percent, edging familiar foe Ralf Souquet (46 percent) and fellow Filipino Jose Parica (44 percent). No other players were named on more than a quarter of submitted ballots.

Also to be inducted are Terry Bell and Larry Hubbart, founders of the American Poolplayers Association league system in 1979.

Bustamante, 46, Bell, 66, and Hubbart, 69, will be formally inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame on Oct. 21 during ceremonies in conjunction with the US Open 9-Ball Championship in Chesapeake, Virginia.

“Two things that I always dreamed of were to be world champion and to be in the Hall of Fame. This year both dreams came true. We all dream to be in the BCA Hall of Fame, so I am very happy today. We are heroes in the Philippines, but for the American people to recognize me like this makes me very proud,” said Bustamante.

His buddy and pool legend Efren “Bata” Reyes was the first Filipino to be inducted into billiards Hall of Fame in 2003.

Bustamante started playing pocket billiards at 10 years old, and began competing in the US in the early 1990s. 

He hit his stride in the US in 1997, winning two Camel Pro Billiard Tour events. He was named Billiards Digest’s and Pool and Billiard Magazine’s Player of the Year in 1998 after notching four major tournament wins then earned Billiards Digest’s and Inside Pool’s Player of the Year titles again in 2002, winning five major events in the US and abroad, and finishing second at the World Pool Championship.

Bustamante finally garnered his first recognized world title last month when he won the WPA World 9-Ball Championship in Doha, Qatar. His strongest game is 9-ball, where his blockbuster break is legendary although he is more than proficient at all the major games, as witnessed by his All-Around title at the 2008 Derby City Classic.