PARANAQUE CITY, PHILIPPINES - Today the Philippines, tomorrow the world. Francisco "Django" Bustamante wants to conquer them all.
The power-breaking cue artist showed the form that made him the top rated player in the world a few years back in sweeping his way to a second straight San Miguel Beer Philippine 9-Ball Open crown, culminating with a 17-11 disposal of upset-conscious Leonardo Didal Saturday night at the Casino Filipino Pagcor Theater enroute the top purse P500,000.
It was his second successful title-defense in less than a month. He recently retained the Bali Open title in Bali, Indonesia.
But Bustamante is still one hungry soul. "It is better if I won a world championship," Bustamante said during a dinner he hosted at the Mandalay Restaurant in the second level of Casino Filipino.
He was a runner-up to American Earl Strickland in the World Pool Championship four years ago in Cardiff, Wales. "I hope my lucky will continue until to the WPC (World Pool Championship)," said Bustamante. The world championship of 9-ball will be staged in the country next month.
"The Philippine Open Its a nice warm-up event before WPC." He also needed to warm up before pulling away against Didal in the finals of the double elimination event co-organized by Solar Sports and Puyat Sports and supported by San Miguel Beer.
Trailing 5-7, Bustamante took four of the next six racks to forge a 9-all deadlock. Four frames later, Bustamante was up, 13-9. There was no stopping him from there.
Before taking on the rest of the world, Bustamante will first test the water in Moscow, Russia as he competes in the 1st International Tour on Oct. 18-21.
