Bustamante, Alcano stay unscathed

Filipinos Francisco “Django” Bustamante and Ronnie Alcano posted their fifth consecutive victories Thursday to stay in the winners’ bracket in the 33rd Annual US Open 9-Ball Championship at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Bustamante of Puyat Sports overwhelmed Oscar Dominguez, 11-1, while Alcano of Bugsy Promotions outlasted compatriot Lee Van Corteza, 11-9, as they stayed unscathed in the star-studded event that offers a total cash purse of $250,000.

Corteza made amends by getting the better of Germany’s reigning world eight-ball champion Ralf Souquet, 11-8, in the losers’ bracket to enter the tournament’s last 16.

United States-based Jose “Amang” Parica later pulled the rug from under defending champion Shane Van Boening of the US, 11-10, to join Bustamante, Alcano, and five others in the tightening circle of unbeaten players from the original field of 238.

Counting the eight remnants in the one-loss bracket, only 16 players stayed in contention heading into the final two days of the race for the $40,000 champion’s purse.

Joining Alcano, Bustamante and Parica in the winners’ side are former world champions Mika Immonen, Johnny Archer and Thorsten Hohmann, as well as reigning world 9-ball titlist Darryl Peach and World Cup of Pool co-champion Rodney Morris.

Immonen blasted Shawn Putnam, 11-1; Archer downed Brandon Shuff, 11-5; Hohmann routed Petri Makkonen, 11-2; Peach outsmarted Raj Hundal, 11-8; and Morris trounced Adam Smith, 11-4.

The unfriendly draw, however, has Alcano and Bustamante going up against each other in the next round. Parica will meet Immonen, Archer battles Peach and Hohmann collided with Morris.

Warren Kiamco scored five wins in the losers’ bracket to stay in the hunt.