Late start gives Orcollo, Django big boost

Francisco “Django” Bustamante and Dennis Orcollo open the Team Villards-Philippines’ bid in the 2008 PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool on Thursday, giving them ample time to size up the field in the event unfolding today in Rotterdam, Holland.

The second seeded Filipino tandem is tipped to hurdle its opening round assignment in Denmark’s Martin Larsen and Kasper Kristoffersen, ranked 31st in a field of 32.

“We’re kind of lucky to have that schedule. At least we’ll have more time to practice, get accustomed to the weather and see how the other teams play,” said Bustamante, who will be making his third straight appearance in the event offering a total pot of $250,000 (P11.75 million).

The champion will get $60,000.

Bustamante, with partner Efren “Bata” Reyes, won the event’s inaugural edition in 2006 but the Filipinos relinquished the crown with a quarterfinal loss to eventual champion China of Fu Jianbo and Li He-wen last year.

“But of course we know that it takes more than luck to win this tournament, especially with the knockout format being employed here. So we have to come out with our best that’s why we’re preparing hard,” said Bustamante.

The Filipinos’ World Cup campaign is supported by Senate President Manny Villar’s Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports, the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP), Puyat Sports and Bugsy Promotions.

A win over Denmark will move Team Villards-Philippines to a round-of-16 encounter against the winner of the match between Malaysia of Ibrahim Bin Amir and Lee Poh Soon, and Russia of former European No. 1 Konstantin Stepanov and Ruslan Chinahov.

A team needs to win five straight matches to win the World Cup of Pool crown.

Orcollo, who has won four major tournaments this year – the San Miguel Beer-Quezon City 9-ball Championship, the All-Japan Open, the 2008 Qatar International 9-ball Open and China leg of the 2008 Guinness Tour, is raring to win the World Cup title to stake his claim as the world’s No. 1 player.

“I hope I could continue my strong performance and help Django win this tournament for our country,” said the 29-year-old Orcollo.

The event also serves as part of Orcollo and Bustamante’s buildup for the Q.C. Invasion: Quezon City-Philippines vs the World Grand Billiards Showdown slated Dec. 2-4 where they will team up with six of the country’s top cue artists, headed by Reyes, against a select group of international players at the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City.

Top seed China will open its title-retention bid against No. 32 India in the tournament’s first match today.

Other opening day matches pit No. 5 England of reigning World Pool champion Darryl Peach and Mark Gray against Tony Drago-led Malta; No. 3 Holland A of world No. 2 Niels Feijen and Nick van den Berg versus Belgium, No. 8 Finland of former world champion Mika Immonen and Markus Juva against Korea; No. 9 Italy opposite Peru; and No. 16 Switzerland against Hong Kong.