World champion Efren "Bata" Reyes stakes his reputation when he plays Francisco "Django" Bustamante again in a one-on-one duel next week with a whopping P1-million cash prize at stake.
Dubbed the Motolite P1-million Battle of Champions, the marathon 9-ball match between the country's top cue masters will be held at the Coral Ballroom of Holiday Inn, Manila starting Thursday up to Saturday.
Reyes, one of the best pool tacticians in the world, is the sentimental pick to win the duel, having beaten Bustamante in the final of the San Miguel Beer Challenge the Champion tournament last year and in the semifinals of the world championship in Cardiff Wales in July, which Reyes eventually won.
Attendance is by invitation only and no admission tickets will be sold, but all the matches will be televised live daily on Viva Television on IBC-13. The airing schedules are from 5 to 8 p.m. on March 30 and from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. on March 31 and April 1.
But following Reyes loss in the recent Motolite International 9-Ball championship which Bustamante won, a debate has been going on between the fans of the two on who is really the better player now.
To settle the issue, Motolite, which put up the P1-million prize, Viva Vintage Sports and Puyat Sports are producing what promises to be the billiards blockbuster of the year.
The 9-ball duel will; be played under the following format:
* US Pro Billiards Tour 9-Ball rules will be followed.
* Daily matches: Day 1, race to 11. Winner: P70,000, Loser: P30,000. Day 2, race to 11, Winner; P70,000, Loser: P30,000. Day 3, race to 11. Winner: P70,000, Loser: P30,000.
* The player with the higher total score (games won) wins the grand prize of P500,000. The other player gets P200,000.
* If the total scores of the two are tied after the third race-to-11 match, there will be a one-game playoff to determine the winner of the grand prize.
The Motolite P1-million Battle of Champions is sponsored by San Miguel Beer, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Skyflakes, Mr. Donut, Rogin-E and Casino Filipino Pavilion at Holiday Inn Manila.