MANILA, Philippines — Efren "Bata" Reyes and Ronnie Alcano expectedly downed their respective rivals but Francisco “Django” Bustamante crashed out in the World 8-Ball Championship Tuesday at the Fujairah Exhibition Centre in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

Reyes, the 2004 champion, defeated compatriot Dennis Orcollo, 7-5, in their Group 3 match which had the drama of a title showdown.

Not to be outdone, Alcano, a die-hard Reyes fan who topped the 2007 of the event, beat another Filipino in Ramil Gallego, 7-4, in Group 7.

Their victories somehow made up for Bustamante’s twin setbacks that booted him out of contention.

He first dropped a heart-breaking 7-6 loss to 2007 World 9-Ball winner Daryl Peach, 7-6, and 7-3 to David Alcaide in Group 2.

Tournament rules call for a double-elimination format in each of the 14 groups of the week-long event, thus eliminating Bustamante from the tournament.

Joining Reyes and Alcano in the next round are Lee Van Corteza, Roberto Gomez, Antonio Lining, Rodolfo Luat, Gallego, Joven Bustamante, Francisco Felicilda and Oliver Medinilla.

Corteza beat Mehdi Rasheki, 7-3, in Group 10, Gomez survived 2008 champion Ralf Souquet of Germany, 7-6, in Group 11 and Lining dispatched Jepthant Palencia, 7-2, in Group 3.

Luat won over Marcus Chamat, 7-5, in Group 14, Gallego bounced back from his loss to Reyes by beating Majid Sultan, 7-1, and Bustamante trounced Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, 7-6, in Group 2.

Meanwhile, Felicilda beat Ricardo Jones, 7-5, in Group 8 and Medinilla came out victorious against Li Wen Lo, 7-1, in Group 6.

Jonas Terrado, Manila Bulletin