The One Pocket Face-Off at the Predator Pro Billiard Series in Las Vegas delivered thrilling battles of strategy and precision, with Francisco Bustamante and Joshua Filler emerging victorious in their respective matchups to claim the $10,000 winner-takes-all prizes.
In the first showdown, Filipino pool legend Francisco Bustamante reminded everyone why he is still a force to be reckoned with. Despite he’s retired from professional competition, his skills remain razor-sharp as he defeated Tony Chohan 5-3, using his aggressive shot-making to counter Chohan’s defensive mastery. “Against Tony, you have to be aggressive,” Bustamante said. “If he gives me a shot, I go for it because I can’t outmove him—he’s one of the best at that in One Pocket.”
Their match was not only competitive but also highly entertaining. One Pocket is often perceived as a slow and methodical game, but this showdown was anything but boring. Both players embraced the moment, sharing smiles and delivering lighthearted exchanges that had the crowd laughing, all while showcasing top-tier shot-making.
The second match saw Filler showcase his adaptability, defeating Shane Van Boening 5-2. Despite being a dominant force in pool, One Pocket is a less familiar battleground for Filler, but his rapid improvement was undeniable. Compared to their last One Pocket encounter, where Filler ran more than one ball in just 14% of his scoring innings, this time he elevated that number to 89%, a remarkable transformation. Another key factor in his win was his dominance on the break—Filler broke and won 75% of the time, while Van Boening managed just 33%.
“It feels awesome because I don’t play One Pocket often, but I studied a lot to prepare for this,” Filler said. “It was just a race to five, so I knew my chances. And I was lucky to make that last bank shot—it didn’t even seem possible, but somehow it went in.”
From probilliardseries.com