BATA REYES SETTLED SECOND IN DERBY CITY CLASSIC 9-BALL BANKS; POCKETS $5,000

MANILA, PHILIPPINES—FILIPINO pool maestro Efren “Bata” Reyes landed second place in the 12^th Annual Derby City Classic 9-ball banks at the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel in Indiana, United States on Tuesday.

Reyes, acknowledge one of the greatest pool players of all time lost to defending 9-ball banks champion hometown hero American John Brumback, 3-2, in their rematch in the finals.

Brumback took home $10,000 while Reyes settled for a nice $5,000. Another American Larry Nevel, finished 3^rd for $3,000.

Reyes, the prize fighter of Puyat Sports, earlier beat American Shannon Daulton, compatriot Alex “The Lion” Pagulayan and Nevel to arrange a titular showdown with the undefeated Brumback.

Actually, Brumback earlier beat Reyes in round 11, who play nearly flawless, closing out the set 3-0 and only giving up four banks.

For only the second time ever, Reyes enters the finals of the bank pool championships for a chance at the title. His second place finish in 2007 against American Stevie Moore gave him his best finish.

Reyes and fellow Puyat Sports ace Francisco “Django” Bustamante, whose successful partnership earned them the World Cup last year in Manila and spearheaded Team Asia in the over-all championships in Brunei last week, have ruled several events for a number of times.

Since 1999, the 55-year-old Reyes won the 9-Ball event three times, One Pocket five times, and the all-around championship four times. Bustamante, a former world no.1, on the other hand, ruled the overall title in 2008.

The US tournament features three events – 9-Ball, One-Pocket, 9-Ball Banks – with the player dishing out the most impressive performance in all events being declared the All Around champion. The three events stake a total of $50,000 (P2.4 million) with the 9-ball dangling $25,000, One Pocket $15,000 and 9-ball banks $10,000.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO.