Francisco “Django” Bustamante opened his WNT Legends campaign with a tight 11–9 win over Earl “The Pearl” Strickland in a race-to-11 showdown.
Francisco "Django" Bustamante opened his WNT Legends: Where Greatness Collides campaign with a hard-fought 11–9 win over Earl "The Pearl" Strickland at the Gateway Mall in Quezon City on Wednesday, January 21.
Bustamante struck first and built an early cushion, but Strickland repeatedly answered back, turning the match into a seesaw battle.
After the scores swung through multiple ties, both legends traded momentum with neither able to pull away.
The turning point came late as Bustamante, the 2010 WPA World 9-Ball champion, steadied himself to move ahead 9–8, then closed in clinical fashion to reach match point at 10–8.
Strickland clawed one back, but Bustamante sealed the opener on the next rack to lock in the 11–9 victory.
Up next for Bustamante will be German pool legend Ralf Souquet, while Strickland will be reunited with his former rival, Efren “Bata” Reyes. Both matches will be on Thursday, January 22, at the same venue.
[ALSO READ: WNT Legends: Where Greatness Collides—Everything you need to know]
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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.