Perfect tuneup for Cardiff bash

The On Cue! Europe vs Philippines 9-ball tournament could just be the perfect warm-up Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes and the rest of the protagonists of the five-day meet need before plunging to action in billiards’ biggest event of the year.

That would be a week and half from now in Cardiff, Wales, where the world’s best 9-ball players will gather.

"This is one great chance to hone our talent for the next big tournament that is just around the corner in Cardiff," said Finland’s Mika Immonen, one of four European players who will pit skills with Reyes and Co. starting today at The Loop Center inside the ABS-CBN compound in Quezon City.

Immonen, Reyes, Ralf Soquet of Germany, Niels Feijen of the Netherlands, and Swede Marcus Chamat guested in yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Manila Pavilion along with billiards patron Aristeo ‘Putch’ Puyat.

Reyes and the four Europeans were one in saying that winning the $15,000 top purse put up by giant network ABS-CBN for the July 2-6 meet should augur well in their respective World Championship campaigns.

"Parang paghahanda na rin naming mga Pilipino ito. Siyempre, kung manalo ang isa sa amin, mas maganda ang tsansa sa Cardiff," said the 48-year old Reyes, himself a winner of the World Championship back in 1999.

Reyes will be joined by fellow Filipino Francisco ‘Django’ Bustamante, Warren Kiamco and Antonio Lining in the single-round robin tournament with a race-to-seven, alternate break format.

Puyat also echoed the same sentiment.

"For one, two of the best players from Europe are here," he said in the same forum sponsored by Red Bull, Agfa Colors and Pagcor, referring to Souquet, now considered the top-ranked player in Europe today and Immonen, also a one-time World Pool champion. "Besides, sila-sila rin naman ang magkaka-laban dun."

The Cardiff tiff starts July 12.

Reyes and the Filipino contingent will leave for the meet on July 9, while Soquet goes home to Germany first before proceeding to Cardiff.

"I feel a little bit tired going here, so I think I have to stay in Germany for while before competing there," said the bald-headed player.

The top two players from each team advance to the crossover semis with the top Filipino player clashing with Europe’s No. 1 and the top-ranking player from Europe meeting the No. 2 local bet in a pair of race-to-11 matches.

The finals will be a race-to-13 contest.

Runner-up receives $10,000, while the third and fourth placers get $5,000 and $3,000, respectively.