Bata, two other RP bets gain in US pool

MANILA, Philippines - Efren “Bata” Reyes, Jose Parica and Warren Kiamco swept their first two matches in varying fashions as the US Open 9-Ball Championship got under way Monday at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Reyes, the former world champion, whipped Nick Tafoya, 11-3, but had to turn back Ben Judge to hack out an 11-7 win in his second game. Parica routed Jason Johann, 11-4, in the first match then repulsed Dave Bollman, 11-8, to match Reyes’ big start.

Kiamco also dominated Richard Burns, 11-2, but had to turn back Chris Bartram, 11-7.

Reyes, the 2010 Vigo Spain champion and 2010 International Predator 10-ball winner, is set to play either Roman Hybler or Tomoo Takano while Parica will meet the winner of the match between ex-World 9-ball ruler Daryl Peach and Gerda Hofstatter.

Also winning their matches are world 9-ball champion Francisco “Django” Bustamante, former double world champion Ronato Alcano, Alex Pagulayan, Lee Vann Corteza, Ramil Gallego, Santos Sambajon and Edwin Montal.

Bustamante defeated Shawn Putnam, 11-9; Alcano downed Justin Hall, 11-6; Pagulayan trounced Levi Meiller, 11-6; Corteza whipped Alexander Fitzgerald, 11-5; Gallego held off Belinda Calhoun, 11-7; Sambajon waylaid Lee Scott, 11-3; and Montal edged Keith Bennett, 11-9.

Dennis Orcollo, Antonio Lining, Jundel Mazon and Roberto Gomez, however, dropped their respective matches.

Orcullo won by default against Tracy Prescott but lost to veteran campaigner Johnny Archer, 9-11; Lining bowed to Rory Hendrickson 9-11; Mazon defeated Tony Crosby, 11-5, but lost to Earl Strickland, 9-11; and Gomez crushed Hunter Lombardo, 11-3, but fell to Chris Orme, 8-11.