Bata, Pinoy bets show way in world billiards

CARDIFF, Wales — Efren "Bata" Reyes continued to wield his magic and his teammates probably took the cue as practically all the seven Filipino bets in the 2001 World Pool Championship made a show in Day Two of hostilities at the Cardiff International Arena here.

Reyes, the 1999 titlist who’s been installed by London bookmakers as second favorite behind American Earl Strickland, lived up to expectations anew, making it four in a row to gain solo lead in Group 8 as he repulsed Hungary’s Sandor Tot and Norway’s Raymond Hauge.

Reyes, who won his first two games over Japan’s Hishasi Yamamoto and Wales’ Rob McKenna in Day One, scored a scary 5-4 victory over Tot. Result of Reyes’ triumph over Hauge was unavailable.

Leonardo Andam, a veteran US tour campaigner like Reyes, also kept an unblemished record in Group 16, hacking out a third straight win with a 5-0 sweep of Slovak Erculj Matjaz.

Antonio Lining, who split his first two matches, matched Reyes’ two-game romp on a day Rodolfo Luat and Warren Kiamco finally made their presence felt in the tourney with their first victory.

Lining escaped past Dominic Dale of England, 5-4, then rolled over Jeremy Jones of the United States, 5-3, to stay at second behind Thomas Engert (with 3-0 win-loss card) in Group 14.

Luat, the best placer among the Filipinos here last year having reached the quarterfinals, claimed his first win at the expense of Ireland’s Tommy Donlon, 5-1, in Group 6 while Kiamco, a gold medalist in the 1999 SEA Games, barged into the win-column with a 5-2 victory over England’s Joe Johnson in Group 7.

Ramil Gallego, who also split his first two games in Day One, improved his slate to 2-1 in Group 1 also via a 5-1 win over England’s Andy Battams.

It was not all good news for the Filipino bets, though, as Django Bustamante was stopped by England’s Gary Ponting, 1-5. Earlier in the day, the former world 8-ball champion whipped Robbie Suarly, 5-2, in a Group 13 match.

Defending champion Fong Pang Chao of Chinese Taipei also hit the dust, bowing to Australia’s Quinten Hann, 1-5, in Group 1. He bounced back later with a 5-2 win over Sweden’s Tom Storm.

Strickland remained on a roll in Group 2 and so did compatriot Johnny Archer in Group 11 and Ralf Souquet of Germany in Group 10.

Archer and Souquet both have gone four-for-four and Strickland 3 for 3, staying solid contenders for the $65,000 top purse in the rich event.