Reyes, Bustamante go up vs Taiwan’s aces, crowd

Efren "Bata" Reyes and Francisco "Django" Bustamante will not only have to contend with Taiwan’s finest cuemasters but an expected hostile crowd as well when they compete in the fourth leg of the rich San Miguel Asian 9-ball Tour beginning Friday in Taiwan.

Reyes, who swept the first two legs of the five-stage series sponsored by San Miguel Beer, tries to bounce back from his setback in Hong Kong two weeks ago where he lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Yang Ching Shun of Kaohsiung, who will be at the forefront of a crack seven-player host squad in the $50,000 event.

Chao Fong Pong, considered the dean of Taiwanese pros, is also in the fold with the former two-time world champion going flat out for a first-ever win after losing the crown to Reyes in Vietnam and reaching the semis in Hong Kong.

Chen Huang Wu, meanwhile, makes his much-awaited return to the tour, organized by ESPN Star Sports Management Group, with the lanky 31-year-old, who also bowed to Reyes in the semis in the Singapore leg, expected to figure prominently in the hunt for the top $10,000 purse.

Completing the host’s roster are Hsia Hui Kai, Wang Hung Hsiang, Kuo Po Cheng and Hung Lu Kung.

But they will ranged against an equally imposing Philippine squad with Bustamante, the reigning world No. 1, also expected to atone for his string of so-so finishes and score a breakthrough win heading to the final leg in Manila on May 28-29.

The top 10 players after five legs will get automatic slots to this year’s World Pool Championship slated July 10-18, also in Taiwan.

Meanwhile, the highlights of the Hong Kong leg will be shown on STAR Sports beginning at 4:30 p.m. today, including Bustamante’s quarterfinal match with Hsia.

Reyes semis clash with Yang will be aired on Wednesday starting at 7 p.m. with the final match between Yang and Hsia to be shown on Thursday, also at 7 p.m. Lee Van Corteza, Antonio Gabica and Warren Kiamco, will also see action in the tournament together with veteran Pinoy shooter Leonardo "Dodong" Andam, a former World Pool Championship quarterfinalist.

But unlike in Hong Kong where the RP cue masters played before a predominantly Filipino crowd, Reyes and company are expected to get cold treatment from the fans this time with the hosts out to sweep this weekend’s top honors.

Joining the elite 32-player pool are South Korea’s Park Shin Young and Jeong Young Hwa, India’s Alok Kumar, Hishashi Yamamoto and Satoshi Kawabata.