Bustamante wins 9-Ball, leads Filipinos in 10-Ball

Veteran cue artist Francisco 'Django' Bustamante, aged 61, won the 29th Annual Jay Swanson Memorial 9-Ball Championship on Thursday, February 20 (Manila time), defeating Germany's Can Salim with a score of 11-9.

Bustamante also led the Philippines' charge in the first round of the Las Vegas 10-Ball Open by beating American Bobby Garza with a convincing 4-1, 4-1 win but was later defeated by German Ralf Souquet, 4-2, 4-3.

Three other Filipino players—Jeffrey De Luna and Mark Estiola who lost to Fil-Canadian Alex Pagulayan—and Fil-Canadian Alex Pagulayan won their matches to join Bustamante in the winning group.

Top female pool players Chezka Centeno and Rubilen Amit are set to represent the Philippines in the women's division of the tournament.