REYES

Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante will spearhead the Asian challenge in the Asia versus Europe Men’s 9-Ball Team Challenge which fires off January 15 at the Sutra Hall, Rizqun International Hotel in Brunei.

Reyes and Bustamante, whose successful partnership earned them a second World Cup of Pool title in Manila last year, will be leaving for Brunei later this week to lead a crack Asian team seeking to affirm its status as the one of the world’s repository of top pool talents.

Reyes’ events manager Christine Caparaz said the Filipino duo will be joined by host’s Teo Chee Soon and Taiwanese Ko Pin Yi and Lu Hui Chan in the event organized by the Brunei Darussalam Cue Sports Association and sanctioned by Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU) and European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF).

A total of $45,000 (P2.1 million) will be up for grabs in the three-day tourney with the team champion bagging $27,000 (P1.2million), runner-up team $13,000 (P624,000) and single match winner $5,000 (P240,000).

Reyes and Bustamante defeated Ralf Souquet and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, 11-9, in a riveting final last year to regain the World Cup they won during the inaugural staging in 2006.

Soon, who partnered with Brunei Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah for the men’s nine-ball doubles event at the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Laos last month, is currently ranked No. 2 in his country while Yi, nicknamed the Prince of Pool is currently ranked No. 1 in Asian Pocket Billiards Union ranking while compatriot Chan nicknamed "Whirlwind Kid" is currently ranked No. 15 in the world.

Team Europe will be led by world No. 2 and Europe’s No. 1 Souquet.