Bata-Django showdown seen in Asian 9-ball

HONG KONG — If they play true to form and nobody pulls off a shocker over the two most fancied players in the fold, Francisco "Django" Bustamante and Efren "Bata" Reyes may find themselves disputing the third leg crown of the San Miguel Asian 9-ball Tour here.

Having been ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in the elite 32-player field, Bustamante and Reyes found themselves in the opposite side of the draw in the tennis-style, knockout format event, hoping to hurdle their respective rivals and arranging a dream match for the championship worth $10,000.

But that’s easier said than done.

For Reyes, seeking a third straight win here after ruling the Singapore and the Vietnam legs of this five-nation hopping series sponsored by San Miguel and organized by ESPN STAR Sports Management Group, said it will be tough considering the depth of the field that includes former two-time world champion Chao Fong Pang of Taiwan and a bunch of talented pool players ready to foil the Filipinos’ bid in the two-day tournament.

"Balikatan pa rin ang laban," said Reyes, refusing to be drawn into a false sense of security following his back-to-back victories that made him the most feared player in the fold this weekend.

He takes on Pang Chian Zian of Singapore in one of the six race-to-9 duels in the morning matches kicking off the event at the Hong Kong Football Club in Happy Valley here.

Bustamante, currently the world’s No. 1 but who is coming off a couple of so-so stints in the first two legs of the circuit, which gives qualifying points to this year’s World Championship, which incidentally will be held in Taiwan this July, is pitted against another Taiwanese ace Wang Hua Fong.

Like Reyes, the power-breaking Bustamante, who hasn’t gone down to No. 6 in the world rankings the last four years, said he’s wary of his chances in his side of the draw that includes Chao.

Two other Filipinos are also in the fold with Warren Kiamco paired with Fung Kwok Wai, one of Hong Kong’s two Busan Asian Games medalists in the snooker event, and Antonio Gabica clashing with Fan Chi Sheng, also of Taiwan, in the lower bracket.

But a victory by Kiamco, ranked 31st in the world who placed eighth in the recent Japan Open, will set him up against Chao, who is fancied to hurdle past Michael Chong of Singapore in the first round.

Meanwhile, STAR Sports will telecast the event on May 1 starting with the quarterfinals at 3:30 p.m. while the semifinal matches and the championship will be aired on May 2 starting at 2 p.m.