By Ronnie Nathanielsz

FRANCISCO “Django” Bustamante conquered a field of 96 of the finest pool players in the world to win the US Pro Tour Championship, beating America’s no. 1 Johnny “The Scorpion” Archer in a nerve-wracking final, 7-6, at the Normandie Casino in Los Angeles early Monday (Manila time).

Bustamante played like the 1998 Player of the Year and world’s no. 1 that season when he outplayed his opponents one by one to remain undefeated in the prestigious event en route to pocketing the top prize of $10,000.

In his winners’ bracket showdown with Mika “The Iceman” Immonen, Bustamante coolly sank one ball after another to whip the cocky Finn, 7-4, in the battle for the hot seat after earlier routing Archer, 11-4, following a similar 11-4 thrashing of world trick shot champion Fabio Petroni of Italy.

With the semifinals and finals down to a Race-to-7, alternate break, Bustamante was forced into a rematch with Archer.

The American showed he still had a lot of sting left in his game by beating Raj Hundal, Robb Saez and Immonen in the losers’ bracket to once again challenge Bustamante.

All seemed virtually lost for the Filipino when Archer raced to a comfortable 6-2 lead. But Archer and most of the fans failed to reckon with the fighting spirit of Bustamante.

Rolly Vicente, who manages the players supported by the acknowledged godfather of Philippine pool Aristeo “Putch” Puyat, told Viva Sports/Standard Today in an overseas telephone conversation that “in the beginning, Django struggled but he came back and played really well.”

Vicente said Archer was under tremendous pressure after Bustamante’s spectacular comeback in which he strung together four racks to force a hill-hill battle at 6-6.

Archer had the advantage when he broke in the final rack, but after he missed what Vicente described as “a tough long shot,” Bustamante seized the opportunity to run out the rack and score the pulsating victory.

Vicente praised Bustamante for his fighting heart, which enabled him to win the prestigious tournament, after skipping the 2nd Annual National Championships in Manila because both he and bosom buddy Efren “Bata” Reyes had earlier committed to play in the US Pro Tour event.

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