Orcollo, Bustamante leave for World Cup

MANILA, Oct. 6 (PNA) -- Reigning world no. 1 Dennis Orcollo and Francisco “Django” Bustamante left the country on Sunday, confident of carrying Team Villards-Philippines on top of the world as they compete in the 2008 PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool that starts Tuesday in Rotterdam, Holland.

The Filipino duo are on a mission to reclaim one of the most prestigious billiard crowns in the world worn by Bustamante and pool maestro Efren “Bata” Reyes in 2006 before surrendering it to the Chinese pair of Fu Jian Bo and Li He-wen last year.

"I like our chances,” said Orcollo. “Although this is the first that Django and I will be teaming up, we’re very much familiar with each other. I know his style, he knows mine, so I think we could easily jell.”

Bustamante agreed saying “Dennis is the best player in the world today, and with his talent, coupled with my experience, I think we have a very strong chance to win this tournament again.”

Before leaving, Orcollo and Bustamante received an inspirational message from Senate President Manny Villar.

“You are two of the greatest cue artists in the world, and our nation looks at you as heroes. We believe that you can win that World Cup of Pool and once again make our country proud,” said Villar, now the biggest supporter of Philippine billiards thru his Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports.

Orcollo and Bustamante, whose campaign is also supported by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP), will compete against 31 other pairs from around the world in this tournament that offers a total prize fund of US$ 250,000 (P11.75 million), including the champion purse of US$ 60,000.

As no. 2 seed, just behind the defending champions, the Filipino tandem will open their bid opposite Denmark, bannered by Martin Larsen and Kasper Kristoffersen.

The other countries competing in the tournament are Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Chinese-Taipei, Thailand, Vietnam, Canada, the United States, Australia, Peru, Qatar, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Malta, Poland, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, and two teams from the host nation.

Orcollo, a stalwart of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions of businessman Perry Mariano, has already won four major tournaments this year – the San Miguel Beer-Quezon City 9-Ball Championship, the All-Japan Open, the 2008 Qatar International 9-Ball Open and China leg of the 2008 Guinness Tour. He is also set to compete in the Guinness Tour Grand Finals late this month in Jakarta .