The Great Bustamante Challenged Me
Last night I was bestowed the AMAZING honor of being challenged by one of the living legends of pool, The Great Francisco Bustamante in a game of 9-Ball.
Franscisco "Django"Bustamante is from Central Luzon in the Phillipines. He is a Hall of Famer in Pocket Billiards, and the 2010 World Nine-Ball Champion.
He is also in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the Most Powerful Break Shot.
He and another great in the sport Canadian-Filipino WPA World 9-Ball champion Alex Pagulayan were in NYC for a special exhibition at Amstersam Billiards Club, where I had the pleasure to meet and hang out with both of them.
Here I am in the middle with Bustamante (L), and Paguylyan (R).
The guy in the back making the Peace Sign “ photo bombing the shot is American Pro Sean “Alaska” Morgan, a good friend of mine. We play races all the time.
One of the All-Time Greats
Bustamante has been playing since the age of ten.
Here is only a very short list of Bustmante's accomplishments:
- He has defeated the greatest legends of the sport,
- Won titles such as the Munich Masters,
- Won the German Nine-ball Championship
- Won the Japan Nine-ball Championship
- Won the World Nine-Ball Championshi, thus making him one of billiards' greatest international stars.
Inducted into the Billiards Hall of Fame
On July 27, 2010, Francisco Bustamante was elected to the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame. In doing so, Bustamante became only the second player from the Philippines (after Efren Reyes) to be ever be elected.
Bustamante was then inducted in the Hall of Fame on October 21, 2010.
Our Match: Kaju vs. Bustamante
So here we are at the table in ABC. Alaska told me “no safes” keep it entertaining, so I was playing to the crowd going for broke and wasn’t going to play any defensive shots!
.
Not that I ever need any extra incentive to be a "ham", but our 9-Ball Team recently only received out trophy for winning the ABC Team 9 Ball Championship in January.
So I broke to start, ran 4 balls, and thought I almost had ‘em!
But in the end after I missed my only shot (a shot where I would've played a safe normally), Fransisco ran the 6,7, and 8, then made an unbelievable “you had to see it to believe” 4-rail bank shot around the table on the 9-Ball for the WIN!
Unfortunately, I would have LOVED for you to see this AMZING shot, but my video cam ran out of memory 2 seconds before the shot - Seriously!!
What an Honor to play a Hall of Famer (and a really nice guy).
It’s like as if Michael Jordan came to town and played you a game of hoops one-on-one!
(This only happens in pool!)
A day I will definitely always remember!
And definitely in the friendly competitive spirit of the SAC Challenge and all that is WA.
Cheers,
Kaju
Recent Comments
65
Kaju,
Great post and amazing encounter.
I showed it to my wife, she is from Pampanga.
She can now claim that a friend of her husband met the Great Bustamante and scratch off a bucket list item.
Blessings!
Wow, Thank You for that honor, Gabriel:)
It was certainly a thrill, and an unusual encounter.
Only in NYC!
Blessings,
Kaju
Thanks so much again Zach:) I have a new You Tube channel where I'm producing great content.
Check out our great Tokyo story as well as my Efren Reyes match win video play by play:)
Send me your YT link and I will Subscribe. You can Subscribe to my channel here:)
http://bit.ly/2T21P2N
If you don't yet, I will happily return the favor when yours is up.:)
Yes it would be for most people, I've been fortunate though to have played against many great Pros. Thanks Mick:)
It was great, and alot of fun!
I've played Jeanette Lee, and even beat Mike Massey, but of all of them, I won't forget this one!
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Good morning my friend, my God that had to be the coolest thing ever .&I remember meeting Alice Cooper Iggy Pop George Thorogood Ted Nugent. I had the same feelings that I am sure that you were experiencing last night, what a beautiful thing indeed that memory will be with you forever. May you have a wonderful day my friend.
Thanks so much E! Yes, I am sure it was a great thrill meeting Alice Cooper Iggy Pop George Thorogood Ted Nugent, a wonderful experience.
The only difference here is that I got to play Bustamante. I wold LOVE to play with any one of these amazing celebrity rock stars you met (especially Nugent!) as I am also a musician.
Take care all the Best,
Kaju
It was a lot of years ago that I met Ted Nugent, partying with him on his Farm, however I can tell you this he was a true Wildman who love his music as much as he love life itself. I have a great week my brother.
Nugent is true to his character. What you see id exactly what you get.
I've seen him before on Anthony Bourdain "No Reservations" on his farm. Hilarious!
I just want you to know my brother with all my heart and spirit I wish you the best in your music career, by the way I did get sign I got a contract and I blew it many years ago. If you love it my brother and you good don't ever stop don't make the mistake that I did. have the best my friend.
Thank You for your kind and wise words, E. Very much appreciated that:)