MANILA, Philippines -- Three-peat seeking billiard partners Efren "Bata" Reyes and Francisco "Django" Bustamante shoot for win No. 2 in the 2010 PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool when they face the seasoned Team Indonesia late Thursday at Robinsons Place in Manila.

Reyes and Bustamante of Philippines Team A advanced to the next round after an 8-3 triumph against Thai pair Nitiwat Kanjanasri and Sorathep Phoochalam.

They will next face Indonesians Muhammad Zulfikri and Ricky Yang, who scored a thrilling 8-7 victory against Indian partners Raj Hundal and Dharminder Singh Lilly.

Zulfikri is a veteran of several international competitions. He finished runner up in the 2006 Bali International Open and a semifinalist in the 2006 San Miguel Asian tour.

Yang, on the other hand, is best remembered for his first place finish in last year's Philippine Open Pool Championship.

“I've played the Indonesian players in tournaments but never in doubles,” said Bustamante in the tournament Website.

Bustamante said that his partner, Reyes, showed his competitive edge during their game versus the Thais.

"My partner played great and without Efren we wouldn't have won the match. My break wasn't good and this was a surprise as Efren always wants me to break every time but I never made a ball on the break," said Django.

“If my partner plays like that again, then we will win," he added.

Bustamante and Reyes won the inaugural World Cup of Pool in 2006. They reclaimed the title for the Philippines three years later.

Other teams who made the next round are China, Italy, Germany and Russia.

The Philippines has 2 teams in the competition, which involves players from 31 countries.

Philippines Team B, composed of veterans Roberto "Superman" Gomez and former World No. 1 Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo, was set to play against Croatian duo Philipp Stojanovic and Karlo Dalmatin late Wednesday.

The $250,000 total pot prize tournament offers $60,000 (roughly P2.5 million) for the winning team. -- By Marlon Bernardino