Django pockets Japan 9-ball crown

MANILA, Philippines - Francisco “Django” Bustamante thwarted Antonio Lining, 11-7, in an all-Filipino final to rule the All Japan 9-Ball Championship at the Hotel New Archaic Hall in Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo, Japan, last Sunday.

Bustamante, the former world No. 1 and one of the mainstays of Puyat Sports, earned roughly P800,000 for his feat.

It was Bustamante’s second major championship since taking the PartyCasino.net World Cup of Pool crown in a team-up with fellow Puyat Sports ace Efren “Bata” Reyes at the SM North Edsa last September.

On his way to the finals, Bustamante defeated last year’s WPA world junior champion Ko Pin-yi of Chinese-Taipei, 11-8, in the quarters and compatriot Warren Kiamco, 11-9, in the semis.

Kiamco actually had a chance to force a hill-hill game but failed to sink the No. 1 in the 20th rack, enabling Bustamante to escape with the win.

The field included Reyes, Ralf Souquet of Germany, former All Japan champion Lee Vann Corteza, ex-WPA 9-ball runner-up Chang Pei Wei of Chinese-Taipei, Hijikata Hayato and Keisuke Hanawa of Japan.