Django, other big guns gain in Villar pool

MANILA, Philippines - Former leg winners Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Ramil Gallego and Roberto Gomez trounced their respective rivals to advance to the quarterfinal round of the Manny Villar Cup Isabela leg at the La Sallette High School Gymnasium in Santiago, Isabela yesterday.

Bustamante followed up his 9-4 rout of upstart Emil Martinez with a 9-1 romp over former national champion Lee Van Corteza as the 46-year-old former world No.1 stayed on course of a second title after topping the Baguio-Panagbenga leg of the island-hopping series presented by Senator Manny Villar’s Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports recently.

Gallego, winner of the Bulacan leg, demolished Richard Pornelosa, 9-2, for his second straight victory after a 9-4 triumph over local bet Abib Cullanan in the opening round of the three-day tournament co-organized by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines, sponsored by Camella Communities and sanctioned by the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines.