Bata Reyes, Django Bustamante promise more left in their tanks

After the Philippines Open Pool Championship in Manila, Filipinos have not seen the last of billiards legends Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante just yet.

The two legends turned back time in a race-to-three exhibition match on the last day of the tournament at the Gateway Mall on Saturday with Reyes getting the best of his old buddy, 3-2, capped off with a signature bank shot on the final ball.

Following the match, Reyes promised more to come from him, Bustamante, and even fellow legends Earl “The Pearl” Strickland and Ralf “The Kaiser” Souquet this year.

“Apat kami. Kami kaming matatanda,” Reyes, who is 71 years old, said.

Reyes was slated to compete in the Philippines Open but was unable to compete in his first-round and subsequent Last 64 matchups against Ramir Sarmiento and world champion Carlo Biado due to a minor health problem.

“Wala, medyo nagkaroon ng pakiramdam eh. Hindi talaga kayang gumalaw. Kagaya ngayon, hindi pa pwede kasi hinihingal pa ako. Kaya nagpahinga na muna ako,” Reyes said.

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Efren Reyes has still got it 🙏👏

A pleasure to watch two of the best cueists of all time perform in-front of a packed out crowd in Manila 🙌#WNT https://t.co/GNXL4VDsYd #PhilippinesOpenPool 🇵🇭 pic.twitter.com/7aPnLkXeTx

— Matchroom Pool (@MatchroomPool) October 25, 2025

Reyes also shared advice to young cue artists to continue improving their games through consistent practice.

“Kailangan sa kanila yung practice ng husto, concentrate, walang ginagawang masamang bisyo. Kailangan lagi silang tahimik, mag-aral lagi sila. Huwag nilang sasabihin na sila ay magaling na. Kailangan kahit magaling na, practice parin kailangan matuto,” Reyes said.

Meanwhile, Bustamante showed why he is still one of the best cue artists in the world after upsetting world No. 1 Fedor Gorst in a hill-hill duel in the Round of 64.

Bustamante eventually bowed out of the tournament in the next round as Spain’s David Alcaide captured the inaugural title after outlasting Arseni Sevastyanov, 13-3 in the final.

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