Photo taken from www.wpa-pool.com
MANILA, Philippines—Two-time winners Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante of Philippines-B bowed to Mika “the Iceman” Immonen and Petri Makkonen of Finland, 5-9, Saturday night in the 2012 PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool at the Robinson’s Ermita Midtown Activity Center in Manila.
Bustamante flubbed an easy shot on the three ball before a foul by Reyes in the same rack on an attempted kick proved too costly as both errors gave Finland rack 12 for a 7-5 cushion.
“We have a chance but we can’t get through,” said a disappointed Reyes. The 59-year-old Reyes also said he’d stop playing abroad when he turns 60.
“Matanda na ako, di ko na kaya yung biyahe, magastos din,” said Reyes, who will leave first week of October for the upcoming US Open.
The famed Filipino pair, which beat Canada, 8-5, to move on to the quarterfinals, took an early 2-1 lead before an illegal break by Reyes allowed Finland to get back at the table and surge ahead, 5-2.
“They played good but we missed a lot in the beginning,” said Reyes.
Immonen finished off Philippines-B with a seven-nine combination after a break and runout in the 13th rack.
Finland barged into the semifinals and will face Poland while USA and Chinese Taipei clash in the other semis match up.