Bata, Django begin title defense

source: Francis Santiago | mb.com.ph

Revenge will be on the minds of Efren Reyes and Francisco Bustamante when they launch their title retention bid starting this Tuesday in the PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool at the Robinson’s Place Midtown in Manila.

Reyes and Bustamante face off with the Thai duo of Nitiwat Kanjanasri and Surathep Phoochalam at 6 p.m. with the hopes of avenging their 9-ball doubles defeat in last year’s Southeast Asian Games.

The Filipino pair was ousted by the Thais, 7-4, right in their first match of the eliminations in Laos.

“Of course, we want to get back at them,” Reyes, 55, said in Pilipino after the press conference hosted by Solar Sports on Monday.

Learning from their mistakes, Reyes said they should start strong.

“They raced to a 4-0 lead against us and we never recovered,” Reyes said.

The two legends are leaving no stones unturned in their bid to retain the crown they won at the expense of Germany’s Thorsten Hohmann and Ralf Souquet, 11-9, in an enthralling final at the SM North.

That’s why Bustmante, even if he was in Germany last week on some business matters, said he’s perfecting his power breaks, which proved to be his Waterloo last time.

“The fans will help us win because if our rivals hear their roar for us, it will be an advantage,” said Bustamante, who will be inducted to the Billiards Hall of Fame next month, joining "Bata" who made it to the elite roster in 2003.

Reyes and Bustamante, who also topped the maiden edition of the event in 2006, remain the favorites among the 32 teams seeing action in the $250,000 event that dangles $60,000 for the champion duo.

But Souquet and his new partner, Oliver Ortmann, will still post the greatest threat to their quest.

“I am dying for a win,” said Souquet, 41, Europe’s most decorated player. “I haven’t been winning the past three months and this (tournament) is a good opportunity to win.”

Hostilities start at 12 noon this Tuesday with Canada facing Russia, and Indonesia battling India.

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