Efren Reyes, Django Bustamante and rivals rekindle classic battles at WNT Legends Manila

For longtime fans of the sport, the sight of Efren “Bata” Reyes, Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Earl Strickland, and Ralf Souquet sharing the same arena again feels less like a novelty and more like a time machine.

The four icons will headline the WNT Legends showcase at Gateway Mall in Quezon City, a three-day event that reconnects some of the most storied rivalries professional pool has ever known. While they are now celebrated as legends, these players were once constant fixtures against one another on the biggest stages—from World Nineball Championships to Matchroom Classics and international opens across Asia, Europe, and the United States.

Reyes and Bustamante, the twin pillars of Philippine billiards, famously battled Strickland and Souquet throughout the late 1990s and 2000s, a period widely regarded as pool’s golden era. 

Fans still recall Reyes and Strickland’s intense world-title clashes, Souquet’s clinical precision against Asian opposition, and Bustamante’s fearless shot-making that often turned matches on their head. 

Their last competitive appearances together came sporadically in international invitationals and seniors events, making this reunion a rare convergence rather than a routine exhibition.

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

Adding four WNT Legends into the cauldron of noise atmosphere from the Philippines Open

Efren Reyes
Earl Strickland
Francisco Bustamante
Ralf Souquet

This historic three-day spectacle is heading to the Gateway Mall, Quezon City, Manila between the amended dates… pic.twitter.com/XyYDvxMWWL

— Matchroom Pool (@MatchroomPool) January 12, 2026

Designed as a celebration of legacy, rivalry, and personality, WNT Legends places equal weight on history and the present moment. The format ensures that each of the four legends will play every day, allowing fans to once again see combinations that once defined the sport’s global narrative—Manila versus America, Europe versus Asia, flair versus fundamentals.

Gateway Mall serves as a fitting backdrop. The same venue hosted last year’s packed Philippine Open, and its intimate layout once again brings the audience within arm’s reach of the action, echoing the old days when crowds gathered close, reading every expression and reaction from the players.

Matches will be played as a race-to-11 with alternate breaks, striking a balance between competitive structure and fan-friendly pacing. While the pressure of ranking points is absent, pride, history, and muscle memory remain very much in play.

Fans worldwide can watch the entire showcase exclusively on WNT TV via a $30 pay-per-view. In the Philippines, live coverage will be available through the Pilipinas Live app for P499, with primetime broadcasts airing on One Sports—ensuring that a new generation gets to witness, and an older one gets to relive, what it once meant when these four names appeared on the same match card.

Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!

  Follow our Facebook page Sports News PH today and be part of a growing community of passionate basketball fans!