Bata,’ 6 others cruise

Legendary cue masters Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes and Francisco Bustamante remained unscathed after two games to advance to the knockout stage of the prestigious World 9-Ball Championships being held at the Al Sadd Sports Club in Doha, Qata Reyes notched his second win as he displayed superb pocketing and great control of the cue to overwhelm Bader Al Awadi of Kuwait, 9-2, in Group 1 of the tournament sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association. “He’s a good player but the break worked against him, he never got a chance to clear the table. On the other side, I got lucky with my breaks,” said Reyes, the first Filipino winner of the coveted World 9-Ball title in 1999 in Cardiff, Wales.

Bustamante, owner of the 2010 edition, also kept his unbeaten slate by subduing Abdullah Al Yousef of Kuwait, 9-4, in Group 9. Joining them in the next round  are Roberto Gomez, Carlo Biado, Ronnie Alcano, Antonio Gabica and Lee Van Corteza. Gomez routed Mohammad Saeed of Qatar, 9-1; Biado ripped Roman Hybler of the Czech Republic, 9-3; Alcano hurdled past Hunter Lombardo of US, 9-8;

Gabica survived Denis Grabe of Estonia, 9-7; and Corteza toppled compatriot Marlon Caneda, 9-5.

Former World 8-Ball winner Dennis Orcollo, on the other hand, was relegated to the losers’ bracket along with Joyme Vicente, Ramil Gallego and Jundel Mazon. Orcollo succumbed to Andrew Kong of Hong Kong, 5-9, Vicente bowed to John Morra of Canada, 8-9, Gallego lost to Tony Drago of Malta, and Mazon was beaten by Vincent Faquet of France, 5-9.

Also in the losers’ side of the event which offers a total cash prize of $300,000, are Elvis Callasang, Raymund Faraon, Joven Alba and Caneda.