Sport Today and Tomorrow

Bustamante edge out fellow national and pool legend Efren “Bata” Reyes, 9-7 in the final round of the 23rd Japan 9-Ball Open in Tokyo, previous Sunday to arrest his second Japan Open title and a hefty 1.5 million Yen (P750,000) prize .

The all-Filipino finals showdown was forged after Django strike Filipino growing star Jeff de Luna in the semifinals and Reyes repulsed Japan’s own Toru Kuribayashi.

The success was Bustamante’s second triumph of the event which he first won back in 2002.

Lee Van Corteza and Ronnie Alcano lead three other Filipinos into a certain berth in the Round of 32 in the World 8-ball Pool Championship held in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

Corteza, the country’s top ranked player in the tournament (No. 4) barged into the next phase with an 8-5 win over neighbor Dennis Orcollo. Alcano, a former 9-ball and 8-ball champion protected his slot by edging out Mohammed Hosani of UAE, 8-6.

Joining Corteza and Alcano are Antonio “Gaga” Gabica who strike Hudji See of the Netherlands, 8-5; Raymond Faraon who breezed past Vincent Facquet of France, 8-3 and Joven Alba, originally a snooker expert, dismantle his Scott Higgins of Scotland, 8-3.

Seats in the Round of 32 for the other RP players are still up for grabs in today’s match.