EFREN “BATA” REYES DOMINATES SPANISH OPEN; POCKETS ABOUT $8,000

PHILIPPINE billiard icon Efren “Bata”Reyes is once again at the top of the world as he emerged as the winner of the just-ended Spanish Open 9-Ball Championships  was held yesterday in Vigo, Spain.

Reyes, the top player of sportsman/businessman Aristeo “Putch” Puyat,showing his vintage form, outclassed Niels “The Terminator” Feijen of the Netherlands (11-8) in the final to went home the championships trophy plus the top prize about US$8,000.

Reyes again delight the OFW Filipino crowd in Spain by displaying a spectacular and impossible shot according to sportsman/businessman Aristeo “Putch” Puyat.

“Muli na naman nag-alay ng karangalan sa bayan si Efren (Reyes) at napasaya niya din y’ung mga OFW Filipino natin na todo suporta at nanonood ng laro ni Efren sa Spain,” said Puyat, acknowledged Philippine Billiards God Father.

Earlier, Reyes needed to beat reigning World Pool Champion (WPA 9-ball) Daryl Peach of Great Britain (9-6) in the quarter-final round then toppled compatriot and fellow Puyat Sports stablemate Francisco “Django” Bustamante (9-7) in the semi-final round to arrange a titular showdown with Feijen, the European no.1 player.

Reyes also crushed Amalia Matas Heredia of Spain (9-3) in the round-of-32 and Carlos Cabello Ariza of Spain (9-3) in the round-of-16,respectively, in the event which attracted world’s best cue artists that includes World 9-ball and World 8-ball Champion Ralf “Kaiser” Souquet and Oliver “The Machine” Ortmann of Germany, Oscar and Ernesto Dominguez of Mexico, Rodney “Rocket” Morris of the United States and local hero David “The Matador” Alcaide. In the Scotch doubles event, the pair of Reyes and Bustamante yielded to the tandem of Souquet and Alcaide (1-5) in the finals.

Reyes, dubbed as the Magician, a 56-year-old cue artists from Angeles City,Pampanga is in the roll of winning tournaments this year. According to AZbilliards.com, Reyes, the 2010 Player of the Decade, had total earnings of $61,580 in prize money for 2010 not included his latest feat in Spain.

The biggest of Reyes’ winnings are the $20,000 he scored in the Derby City Classic Master of the Table, and the $16,000 he won in the Derby City Classic 9-ball tournament last January at the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel Elizabeth in Indiannapolis, USA. He also won the $8,305 runner-up purse at the 23rd annual Japan Open last March.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO