Rodlin John "RJ Bautista to compete in Derby City Classic in Elizabeth, Indiana, USA
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 14 Dec 2024
Manila---Rodlin John "RJ Bautista will showcase his talent in the money-rich Derby City Classic Open Tournament on January 17 to 26, 2025 at Caesars Southern Indiana Casino and Hotel in Elizabeth, Indiana, USA.
The annual Derby City Classic Open Tournament which features 9 ball, Bank Pool, One Pocket and BigFoot 10-Ball Challenge.
"I am so thrilled to announce that I will join the Derby City Classic Open Tournament in the USA to try my luck and test my skills playing with the best players in the world. I would like to thank coach Ramon Mistica for helping me throughout the entire process of getting the US visa and completing all necessary documents. I will keep improving my game to win the tournament just learning proper techniques and have a heart of a champion," said the University of Santo Tomas Business Management graduate Bautista, who kept himself in shape by practicing daily at the Connector Sports Bar in Tomas Morato, Quezon City and the famous Billiards Center in Grace Village, Quezon City, hosted by long-time sports patron Sebastian “Baste” Chua.
The 29-year-old Bautista captivated the billiard circuit by winning the back-to-back Most Valuable Player award in 2011 and 2012 of the B League, a Collegiate Billiards League.
“I will pour all that I know in the cue sports,” added Bautista, who won the Central Billiard Association 9 Ball Tournament last August at the Hard Times Sports Bar in Timog, Quezon City and the Connector Winner Take All 9 Ball Open Tournament last November at the Connector Sports Bar in Tomas Morato, Quezon City.
This year, Bautista saw action in the 2024 Joy Heyball Masters (Chinese 8 ball) Grandfinals last March in Beijing, China and the 2024 Hanoi Open 9 ball Pool Championship last October in Hanoi, Vietnam.
THe Quezon City resident Bautista, a quarterfinalist in the 2017 World University Olympic Games 9-Ball Pool Championship in Taipei, Taiwan is aiming to follow the footstep of his idol Efren "Bata" Reyes, who won the 1999 WPA World 9-Ball Championship in Cardiff, Wales and the 2004 WPA World 8-Ball Championship in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.-Marlon Bernardino-
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