Earl Strickland defeated Francisco "Django" Bustamante, 11–6, to become the first-ever WNT Legends champion.
Earl Strickland closed out a historic week by defeating rival Francisco "Django" Bustamante, 11–6, to win the inaugural WNT Legends championship at the Gateway Mall in Quezon City on Friday, January 23.
“The Pearl” surged ahead early, racing to a 4–0 lead as early errors crept into Bustamante’s game.
The Filipino legend steadied himself and mounted a comeback, trimming the gap to 5–5 midway through the race-to-11 final.
Momentum swung back to Strickland after a costly scratch by Bustamante on the break at 7–5, allowing the American Hall of Famer to regain control. From there, Strickland pulled away, closing the match by winning four of the final five racks to seal the title.
The victory adds another milestone to Strickland’s storied resume, which already includes nine Mosconi Cup championships, five US Open titles, and three world championships—now capped by becoming the first-ever WNT Legends champion.
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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.