Filipino Billiard Icons Face Defeats at WNT Legends Tournament in Quezon City
It was a somber and disappointing day for the local crowd gathered at the WNT Legends event on Thursday, January 22, 2026. The atmosphere at the Gateway Mall 2 in Cubao, Quezon City, turned gloomy as both Filipino billiard legends, Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante, suffered defeats in their respective matches.
Heartbreaking Losses for National Heroes
Reyes, often hailed as one of the greatest players in the sport's history, bowed to American great Earl “The Pearl” Strickland with a final score of 6-11. Meanwhile, Bustamante experienced a particularly heartbreaking defeat, falling 10-11 to German star Ralf “The Kaiser” Souquet in a match that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.
Bustamante's Dramatic Collapse Against Souquet
Bustamante seemed destined for an easy and straightforward victory after surging to a dominant 8-2 lead early in the game. However, a series of costly and uncharacteristic errors allowed the German veteran to slowly claw his way back into the match, turning the tide dramatically.
Even after Bustamante reached the hill at 10-7, putting him within one frame of winning, Souquet defied all odds by winning three consecutive frames to forge a nerve-wracking 10-10 tie. In the deciding rack, Souquet maintained his composure after the break, executing precise shots to complete the stunning 11-10 comeback victory.
Tournament Format and Final Matchups
Despite the loss, Bustamante still managed to advance to the finals by virtue of his superior rack count. He finished the tournament with 21 racks won, compared to Reyes’ 17, showcasing his overall strong performance throughout the event.
Under the unique tournament format of the WNT Legends, the highest-ranked Filipino player meets the top foreign cue artist for the championship title. Conversely, the lowest-placed Filipino faces the bottom-ranked foreigner in a playoff for third place.
As a result of these rules, Bustamante will battle Strickland for the coveted WNT Legends crown, while Reyes will take on Souquet in the playoff match for third place. This sets up an exciting conclusion to the tournament, with Filipino fans hoping for redemption in the final rounds.
