INQUIRER Global Nation

FRANCISCO ?Django? Bustamante, former champion Lee Vann ?The Slayer? Corteza, Antonio ?Nickoy? Lining and Warren ?Warrior? Kiamco hurdled their respective rivals to advance to the quarterfinal round of the 2009 All Japan 9-Ball Championship yesterday at the Hotel New Archaic Hall in Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo, Japan.

However, hall of famer Efren ?Bata? Reyes lost to Hijikata Hayato of Japan in their Sweet 16 encounter to bow out in the title race.

Bustamante trounced last year?s WPA World junior champion, Ko Pin-yi of Taiwan, to keep Filipino hopes flying high in the tournament.

Corteza stunned Li He-wen of Chinal; Lining nipped Ralf Souquet of Germany and Kiamco bested Keisuke Hanawa of Japan.