MANILA, Philippines—Pool legends Efren “Bata” Reyes and Django Bustamante of Philippines-B had little trouble in defeating Hong Kong’s Lee Chenman and Kenny Kwok, 8-3, Tuesday night to cap off the opening day of the $250,000 PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool 2012 at the Robinson’s Mall Ermita Midtown Activity Center in Manila.
The two-time champion tandem of Reyes and Bustamante, who won the inaugural 2006 and 2009 World Cup of Pool titles, played like well-oiled machines, putting on a pool clinic with their usual precision pocketing.
Bustamante capped off Philippines-B’s stellar showing with a cross bank shot on the one ball that set the easy layout in the deciding rack.
Reyes didn’t have a perfect game with a couple of miscues, including a miss in a long shot at the one ball in rack 10, but as a team didn’t disappoint the full crowd in attendance.
Hong Kong had a chance to get into a rhythm but missed on a six-nine combination in the 8th rack that made it 6-2 for Philippines-B, which faces a familiar name in Alex Pagulayan and teammate John Morra of Canada in Round 2 on Thursday.
Canada escaped Sweden’s Marcus Chamat and Andreas Gerwen, 8-7, in its opening match.
Philippines-A, bannered by Dennis Orcollo and Lee Van Corteza, opens its campaign Wednesday night against Switzerland’s Dimitri Jungo and Ronni Regli.
Meanwhile, Team USA’s Rodney Morris and Shan Van Boening survived India’s Raj Hundal and Amar Kang, 8-7.