Bata, Django to topbill Pacquiao pool tourney

Even in the heat of training, Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao still has the time to indulge in other sports that has caught his fancy. Also an avid pool player, Pacquiao has put his money where his mouth is with the inaugural of the Manny Pacquiao International 9-Ball Open which will be held from October 24 to 27 at the Hobbies of Asia building in Pasay City, a report posed on the www.PhilBoxing.com website. Two of the country's top cue artists - Efren "Bata" Reyes and Francisco "Django" Bustamante - will be bannering the P2-million event. Fast-rising Pinoy pool artists Ronato Alcano, Dennis Orcollo, Warren Kiamco and Lee Vann Corteza will join Reyes and Bustamante in the tournament wherein the top finisher will receive P1 million and the runner-up P500,000. "Nag-confirm na maglalaro sina Efren (Reyes) at Django (Bustamante) ng Puyat Sports. Sasali din sina Ronnie (Alcano) at Dennis (Orcollo) ng Bugsy Promotion maging sina Lee Vann (Corteza) at Warren (Kiamco) ng Negros Billiard Stable. Lahat kasi sila ay manggagaling pa sa US Open then diretso dito sa 1st Manny Pacquiao International 9-ball Open bago maglaro sa World Pool Championships," said tournament director Julie Guevarra. This is not the first time that Pacquiao has organized a pool tournament. In December last year, the Manny Pacquiao Panersera-Pababa 10-ball tourney was held at the Rock and Roll billiard hall in Malate while the Manny Pacquiao 10-ball Open in General Santos City was held only last February. "Gusto ni Manny (Pacquiao) na Solar Sports ang mag-ere ng pa bilyar niya. Actually, tulong ni Manny (Pacquiao) ito sa billiard industry natin, talagang nagpapalaro si Manny (Pacquiao) pagkatapos ng laban niya bilang pasasalamat," Guevarra added. - GMANews.TV