Pool team still robust sans Django
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
ERNESTO Fajardo, the president of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines, expressed confidence that despite the absence of pool legend Francisco “Django” Bustamante, the Philippines has a team that’s good enough to win gold medals in the forthcoming Southeast Asian Games in Manila.
Fajardo said it was very sad that Bustamante was forced to pull out from the SEA Games because of a problem with a painful elbow, which had recently forced him to withdraw in the middle of a game in the US and which also hampered him in the US Open 9-Ball Championships where he finished third.
Bustamante is expected to seek the advice of well-known sports medicine doctor Tyrone Reyes or have it treated in Germany, where European champion Oliver Ortmann had a similar painful elbow, cured.
Fajardo was also concerned that veteran Efren “Bata” Reyes may also be forced to pull out because of poor eyesight.
“We are hoping Efren could make it because we will want him around,” Fajardo said.
However, Fajardo said he realized that Reyes was having problems with his sight for some time now and this had affected his game.
The acknowledged godfather of Philippine pool Aristeo “Putch” Puyat said he would personally accompany Reyes to have his eyes checked and attended to by renowned eye specialist Dr. Arnold Salud, son of former PBA commissioner Rudy Salud on Saturday after which a final decision will be made on whether The Magician would play in the SEA Games.
Fajardo said he was also trying to confirm the participation of US Open champion Alex “The Lion” Pagulayan, who had earlier committed to represent the Philippines in the SEA Games.
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
ERNESTO Fajardo, the president of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines, expressed confidence that despite the absence of pool legend Francisco “Django” Bustamante, the Philippines has a team that’s good enough to win gold medals in the forthcoming Southeast Asian Games in Manila.
Fajardo said it was very sad that Bustamante was forced to pull out from the SEA Games because of a problem with a painful elbow, which had recently forced him to withdraw in the middle of a game in the US and which also hampered him in the US Open 9-Ball Championships where he finished third.
Bustamante is expected to seek the advice of well-known sports medicine doctor Tyrone Reyes or have it treated in Germany, where European champion Oliver Ortmann had a similar painful elbow, cured.
Fajardo was also concerned that veteran Efren “Bata” Reyes may also be forced to pull out because of poor eyesight.
“We are hoping Efren could make it because we will want him around,” Fajardo said.
However, Fajardo said he realized that Reyes was having problems with his sight for some time now and this had affected his game.
The acknowledged godfather of Philippine pool Aristeo “Putch” Puyat said he would personally accompany Reyes to have his eyes checked and attended to by renowned eye specialist Dr. Arnold Salud, son of former PBA commissioner Rudy Salud on Saturday after which a final decision will be made on whether The Magician would play in the SEA Games.
Fajardo said he was also trying to confirm the participation of US Open champion Alex “The Lion” Pagulayan, who had earlier committed to represent the Philippines in the SEA Games.
