Reyes, Alcano, Bustamante To See Action on Day 1 of World Pool
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 15 Oct 2007
MANILA, PHILIPPINES -- Billiards Hall-of-Famer Efren "Bata" Reyes will see action on Day 1 of the 2007 Philippines World PoolChampionship at Araneta Coliseum, along with two other Filipino bets, according to the match pairings and draw released by Matchroom Sport and Raya Sports.
Defending champion Ronnie "Volcano" Alcano and Joven Bustamante are the other Filipinos who will go to battle on Saturday, November 3. The top seed in Group 6, Reyes, the 1999 world champion, battles one of the players who will emerge from the Manila WPC qualifiers beginning on Oct. 27 at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City. Alcano kicks off his title-retention bid against little-known Saeed Ahmed Al-Mutawa, the reigning champion of the United Arab Emirates, in Group 1 of the elimination round. Bustamante, who recently won the 4th Korean International Championship, makes his debut in Group 4 against Malaysia's Ibrahim bin Amir, who finished No.7 overall in the Guinness 9-ball Tour.
The second day of the elimination series on Nov. 4 has five Filipinos making their appearance in the championship. Canada-based and 2004 WPC champion Alex "the Lion"Pagulayan will play North African champion Hamsa Mohammed Saeed Ali of Eritrea in his Group 8 opening match. Perennial favorite Francisco "Django" Bustamante and Antonio "Nickoy" Lining also share the spotlight on the second day when they compete in Group 9. Bustamante tackles South African Wetsi Morake even as the southpaw Lining, considered by some as one of the more underrated Filipino cue artists, takes on South
Korea's Jeong Young Hwa.
Bacolod City native Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego joins the fray when he meets Singapore's Chan Keng Kwang inGroup 7, while Asian Games gold medalist Lee VanCorteza goes up against Serbian Goran Vladenovic inGroup 12.Up and coming Jeffrey "Bata" de Luna and former Asian snooker titlist Marlon Manalo will start their bid inDay 3 of the elimination series. The 23-year-old De Luna, a 2005 Doha Asian Gamessilver medalist, plays Serbia's Sandor Tot in Group 5, while Manalo, best remembered for pocketing $99,000 after losing in the finals of the 2006 IPT NorthAmerican 8-ball Open to Germany's Thorsten Hohmann, faces Austrian Dejan Dabovic in Group 14.
On the final day of the elimination phase, Nov. 6, Dennis "Robo Cop" Orcullo and Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat will strut their wares. Orcullo, currently running fourth in the US tour moneylist with $59,700 in earnings, vies against HongKong's Kenny Kwok in Group 13 while Luat rounds up thecast when he meets Singapore's Toh Lian Han in Group16. The 128 player field is divided into 16 groups ofeight players who will be playing in double elimination brackets to halve the field to 64 for thestraight knockout play which commences on Wednesday,Nov. 7. All ten matches in each group will take place on twotables on the same day.
All matches are a race-to-9 racks, winner's break.
The Group schedule is as follows: Saturday, Nov. 3 ? Groups 1, 3, 4 & 6 Sunday, Nov. 4 ? Groups 7, 8, 9 & 12 Monday, Nov. 5 ? Groups 2, 5, 10 & 14 Tuesday, Nov. 6 ? Groups 11, 13, 15 & 16.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Who was Clever Sison?
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 03 Dec 2025MATCHROOM BOXING RETURNS TO FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS WITH MURATALLA-CRUZ FIGHT, JAN. 24, 2026
Wed, 03 Dec 2025TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Undefeated Featherweight Luis Nuñez Prepares for Hector Sosa Showdown on PBC on Prime Video
Wed, 03 Dec 2025Darry Bernardo, 4 other Pinoys in hot start in 3rd Asian Chess Championship 2025 for players with disabilities
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 03 Dec 2025Two Pacquiaos on same card?
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 02 Dec 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 4: 1924 OLYMPICS AT PARIS, FRANCE
By Maloney L. Samaco, Tue, 02 Dec 2025Cebuana Lhuillier-Backed UTP National Team Shines at 40th Penang Open, Captures Multiple Titles
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 02 Dec 2025WBC 63th Annual Convention Opens in Bangkok
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 02 Dec 2025Undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor closing out a strong 2026
Tue, 02 Dec 2025USA Boxing Announces Partnership with Xempower USA
Tue, 02 Dec 2025THE RING 6: TEOFIMO-SHAKUR SET FOR JANUARY SHOWDOWN IN NEW YORK
Tue, 02 Dec 2025Undefeated Middleweight Dante Kirkman Set to Return December 11 in Costa Mesa
Tue, 02 Dec 2025Dejon Farrell Francis Turning Things Around
Tue, 02 Dec 2025WBC Light Heavyweight Champion David 'The Mexican Monster' Benavidez Excited About History-Making Cinco De Mayo Showdown with Gilberto Ramirez
Tue, 02 Dec 2025PPV.COM RETURNS TO THE RING LIVE STREAMING ALL-ACTION TITLE TILT ISAAC "PITBULL" CRUZ vs. LAMONT ROACH, JR
Tue, 02 Dec 2025