Francisco Django Bustamante Inducted in BCA Hall of Fame!

Billiards buddies and pool player friends, our very own, Francisco Django Bustamante, member of the Filipino Invasion, has been elected for induction into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in voting carried out by the United States Billiard Media Association! You read right, everyone! The 46-year-old Francisco Bustamante will be inducted in the BCA Hall of Fame! Together with Terry Bell and Larry Hubbart, founders of the American Poolplayers Association league system (1979), Bustamante will be formally inducted and realize immortality on October 21, 2010, during ceremonies in conjunction with the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Born in Tarlac, Philippines, Francisco Django Bustamante was only 12 years old when he picked up the game of billiards in his province of Tarlac, Tarlac. Regular players in the billiards hall near the public market would shoo him away. He took time out from selling banana cue (deep-fried, caramelized bananas) and boiled peanuts by squeezing in a few minutes of practice. Soon, he was playing so well he had to seek other billiard halls for tougher competition. In 1985, he went to Metro Manila and eventually found the plush billiard halls of the Puyat-owned Coronado Lanes at Rustan’s in Cubao, Quezon City. There, he matched skills with the likes of Jose Amang Parica, Efren Bata Reyes, Leonardo Andam, Rodolfo Luat, Ramil Gallego, Antonio Lining and Santos Sambajon Jr., some of the finest Filipino players who have dominated the world billiard scene for years.

Speaking of domination, Francisco Django Bustamante began competing in the United States in the early 1990s. Django made his mark in 9-ball, his strongest game. With his winning form and break that can only be characterized as devastating, he scored two Camel Pro Billiard Tour events in 1997. He was also named Billiards Digest’s and Pool & Billiard Magazine’s Player of the Year in 1998 after snatching four major tournament wins.

Moreover, Django earned Billiards Digest’s and Inside Pool’s Player of the Year titles again in 2002, winning five major events in the United States and abroad, and finishing second at the World Pool Championship. He was the All-Around titlist at the 2008 Derby City Classic, too! And finally, Bustamante realized his dream of winning a world title this year via his scintillating performance at the WPA World 9-Ball Championship in Doha, Qatar!

Indeed, 2010 is one unforgettable year for our kababayan! Against the fiercest competition that the game has ever witnessed, Francisco Bustamante has become world champion and inducted in the BCA Hall of Fame – all in one year - 2010! Indeed, there is no denying the dreams of one of the true masters of the sport!


To my good friend, Django:

You are living proof of the adage that dreams do come true! Truly, you are a model, a hero, to all Filipinos! And I kid you not! We are very proud of you! Mabuhay!

"Up, up and away with The AnitoKid!"

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