Francisco “Django” Bustamante marked his return to competition with a 10–1 win over Costa Rica's Esteban Robles at the 2025 Philippines Open Pool Championship.
Legendary cue artist Francisco “Django” Bustamante proved he still has magic left on the table as he cruised past Costa Rica’s Esteban Robles, 10–1, in round 1 of the 2025 Philippines Open Pool Championship on Wednesday at Gateway Mall 2.
Fresh off his stint as Team Asia’s captain in the Reyes Cup 2025 last week, Bustamante admitted it felt good to be back in playing form—this time as a competitor rather than a mentor.
“Kasi last week sa Reyes Cup, hindi naman naglaro pero ngayon, dito na sa Philippine Open,” he shared. “Eh, siyempre, sa Reyes Cup hindi tayo makakapaglaro. Puro support lang may bibigay natin sa mga team natin.”
“Kaya naman ako sumali dito dahil support na sa Matchroom. Dahil nakiusap sila. Kami ni Paring Efren lalaro, kaso si Paring Efren may problema. Kaya ako na lang naglaro.”
[ALSO READ: Efren 'Bata' Reyes, Django Bustamante to see action in first-ever Philippines Open]
Bustamante said he joined the Philippines Open at the request of Matchroom Pool as a show of support for the event, even as his longtime partner Efren “Bata” Reyes sat out due to personal concerns.
“Nanginginig na yung kamay ko”
Despite his resounding win, the 61-year-old legend humbly admitted that his best playing days are behind him.
“Wala na. Nanginginig na yung kamay ko. Hindi na pwede. Nanginginig na talaga. Iba na. Talagang wala na. Hindi na pwede sa international talaga,” said Bustamante with a smile.
Still revered by fans
Even so, the Filipino pool icon remains one of the sport’s most respected figures—something he doesn’t take for granted.
“Eh, wala, pangalan na lang natitira sa amin,” he quipped. “Alam mo naman, medyo senior na kami. At least naglalaro pa rin. So, nagpapasalamat ako. Kahit na may edad na kami, talagang tinitingala pa rin kami.”
Up next for Bustamante will be a huge battle against world no. 1 Feder Gorst in the Round of 64.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.