Billiards
World 9-Ball: Bata Reyes keeps the magic going as Pinoy bets thrive
File photo courtesy of wpa-pool.com
Efren “Bata” Reyes may already be a Hall of Famer, but he’s playing like a hungry young buck in his quest for a third world championship.
Reyes was all business on Monday, whipping Bader Al Awadi of Kuwait, 9-2, to stay in the winner’s bracket of the World 9-Ball Championship at the Al Sadd Sports Club in Doha, Qatar.
It was the second straight win for Reyes, “The Magician” in the world of billiards. He joined fellow Filipino Carlo Biado, who also won his second straight match.
Biado, the reigning Philippine national champion, subdued Roman Hybler of the Czech Republic, 9-3.
Several other Pinoy big guns kept the country’s sizzling show in this prestigious tournament.
Lee Van Corteza brought his A-game in his debut match, blanking Croatian rival Ivika Putnik, 9-0, while fellow Flipino players Dennis Orcullo and Ronnie Alcano won their respective matches in contrasting fashion.
Orcullo, a former World 8-Ball champion, went through some tough times before outlasting Ali Saeed Alsuwaidi of the United Arab Emirates, 9-6.
Alcano, one of only two double world champions, stamped his class on Toh Lian Han of Singapore, 9-3.
The winner of this tournament will receive the top prize of $40,000.
