Efren “Bata” Reyes and Django Bustamante. PHOTOS BY RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines — United States and China posted impressive victories in the 2012 Partypoker.net World Cup of Pool to move through to the quarterfinals along with four other nations Friday.
Only one more Philippine tandem – pool legends Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes and Django Bustamante –remains in contention as the quarters kick off Saturday.
Shane Van Boening and Rodney Morris tripped Albin Ouschan and Mario He of Austria, 8-4, while Liut Haito and Lee Hewen of China overwhelmed David Alcaide and Francisco Diaz Pizzaro of Spain, 8-1.
Chinese Taipei and Holland nipped separate opponents with an identical 8-6 score to also advance to the next round of the $250,000 event at the Robinsons Manila.
Taiwanese Han En Hsu and Hsin Ting Chen eliminated Japan duo of Naoyuki Oi and Satoshi Kawabata while Nick van den Berg and Hudhi See of Holland bundled out Karol Skowerski and Wojciech Szwecyk of Poland.
Bruno Muratore and Fabio Petroni of Italy nearly blanked Dimitri Jungo and Ronnie Regli of Switzerland, 8-1, even as Chris Melling and Darren Appleton made short work of Nitiwat Kanjanasri and Kobit Palajin of Thailand, 8-2.
As the tournament becomes a race to nine, Philippines-B needs hurdle Finland to make it to the top four.
USA faces China, England battles Chinese Taipei and Poland clashes with Italy as the quarterfinals starts at 2 p.m. in the same venue.