BATA REYES TOPS ASIAN GAMES 8-BALL QUALIFYING EVENT

Monday, April 19, 2010, 22:50
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HALL OF FAMER EFREN “BATA” REYES live up to his tag as the greatest player of all time when he beat countryman Jeffrey “The Bull” de Luna, 11-2, in their rematch in the finals of 8-ball competition late Monday of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) qualifying round for the Asian Games at the Rizal Memorial Billiards Center in Malate, Manila.

The former World 8-ball and Asian 8-ball champion Reyes, playing under the banner of sportsman/ businessman Aristeo “Putch” Puyat was in full control of the race-to-11, winner’s break duel by taking a commanding 6-1 lead at the start of the finals match made some of his trademark shots including four break and run-out, and never looked back.

“Pumabor y’ung bola sa rematch na laro ko kay Jeff (de Luna). Malaking factor din naka apat na run-out pa tayo kaya nakalayo agad tayo ng lamang sa kanya,” said Reyes, who topped this month AZ billiards Player Money list who netted a total $61,580 earning including his fifth Derby City Classic Master of the Table tiara in United States to went home $20,000.

“Hopefully maganda sana performance natin sa Asian Games para muli tayong makapagbigay ng karangalan sa bayan,” said the Angeles, Pampanga cue artists Reyes, country’s undisputed billiards icon, was the unanimous choice by the United States Billiards Media Association’s (USBMA) best player of the decade. Reyes also will represent the country in the English Billiards competition.

RP billiards God Father Aristeo “Putch” Puyat is very confident that the RP pool wizards will perform well in the forthcoming 16th Asian Games (also known as the XVI Asiad) Cue Sports Competition scheduled on November 12 to 27 in Guangzhou, China.

“We have very good chances winning the gold medals in the forthcoming Asian Games in China, so I expect our cue artists will perform well in the said quadrennial meet,” said Puyat, long-time supporter of Reyes.

Earlier, Reyes who got bye in the first round subdued giant-killer Mario “Aklan” Tolentino, 9-6, but lost to de Luna, 8-9, in the third round of winner’s brackets.

However, came back in the one-loss side by defeating former WPA 9-ball and 8-ball champion Ronato “Volcano” Alcano, 9-5, Warren “Warrior” Kiamco, 9-6, reigning International Predator 10-ball champion Dennis “Robocop” Orcullo, 9-7, to arrange a rematch with unbeaten de Luna, the 2007 Manny Pacquiao International 9-ball champion who also won the silver medal in the 9-balls competition of the 2006 Doha Asian Games.

De Luna, meanwhile edged former world no.1 Francisco “Django” Bustamante, 9-7, Ricky “Bai” Zerna, 9-8, Reyes, 8-9, Orcullo, 9-5, then bowed to Reyes, 2-11, in the finals.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO