Bata trims Kiamco in all-Filipino Singapore 9-ball final

Just like the last time, there was no magical shot from Efren "Bata" Reyes, just pure pool talent and wizardry.

Reyes overwhelmed and repeated over compatriot Warren Kiamco, 11-4, Sunday to rule the Singapore leg of the San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour 2004 at the Pool Haven in Clarke Quay in Singapore.

The ace Filipino cue master pocketed the top $10,000 purse for his second win this early in the season, counting his victory in the Derby City Classic One Pocket Division last January in Louisville, Kentucky where he bagged $9,000.

In a rematch of last year’s Philippine leg final, which Reyes handily won, 11-2, the 49-year-old former world pool champion dominated Kiamco all throughout and led all way to the championship, raising his 2004 earnings to $48,700.

Kiamco fought back from the brink in the quarterfinal as he rallied from a 2-7 deficit to turn back Jeong Young-hwa of Korea, 9-8, for his third consecutive semifinal appearance in the Tour.

Pitted against giant-killer Alok Kumar in the semis, Kiamco struggled in the early going but regained his touch in time to complete an 11-4 victory and arrange an all-Filipino final in the kickoff leg of the San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour.

On the way to the final, Reyes took the first three racks en route to beating Chen Huang-wu of Taiwan, 11-7.

The Tour provides opportunity for the 32 participating players to garner qualifying points towards the World Pool Championships in July. The Tour is the only ranking tour in Asia for players to qualify for the world tilt. The next leg of the Tour will be from March 13-14 in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

Sanctioned by the Asian Pocket Billiard Union, the San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour is organized by ESPN STAR Sports’ Event Management Group (EMG). San Miguel Beer is the title sponsor for the Tour.

After the Vietnam leg, the Tour will go to Hong Kong on April 17-18 then to Taipei on May 7-9 before winding up in Manila on May 29-30. The main draw includes 32 top Asian players from over 10 countries/regions.