Django leads Pinoys surge

MANILA, Philippines - Reigning world 9-ball champion Francisco “Django” Bustamante chalked up his second straight victory as he dominated Eddie Little, 11-1, in the US Open 9-Ball Championship at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, Virginia Tuesday.

The win came after Bustamante held off Shawn Putnam, 11-9, in the opener of the annual tournament featuring the world’s leading players and it set up the power-breaking Filipino against Oscar Dominguez Thursday.

Dominguez routed Mark Tafoya, 11-5.

Former double world champion Ronnie Alcano, Lee Vann Corteza, and Ramil Gallego also boosted their respective bids, beating Jason Richko, 11-7, Amy Chen, 11-3, and Gallego clobbered Ralph Eckert, 11-3.

Alcano is set to face 2008 World Ten-Ball champion Darren Appleton while Corteza and Gallego go up against another World 9-ball ruler Thorsten Hohmann and Manny Chau, respectively.

 But while Bustamante and company sustained their form, Alex Pagulayan and Santos Sambajon absorbed a pair of 8-11 defeats from Larry Kressel and Charlie Williams, respectively.

Efren “Bata” Reyes, Jose Parica and Warren Kiamco, who earlier posted back-to-back wins in the opener, shoot for their third victories as they square off with Tomoo Takano, Daryl Peach and Chris Orme, respectively.

In the loser’s side of the double elimination format, Jundel Mazon kept his hope alive by thumping William Gallagher, 11-1. 

Roberto Gomez also bounced back in contention by beating B. Levandowsky, 11-6, while Edwin Montal also stayed in the race by routing Tom Czatlicki, 11-2.