Bata solid pick in Asian tour final leg

The last time he played before his adoring Filipino fans, Efren "Bata" Reyes gave them something to cheer on – winning the final leg of the San Miguel Asian 9-ball Tour with an emphatic victory over compatriot Warren Kiamco at the Pearl Plaza in Baclaran last year.

Exactly a year later, the country’s top cue artist will be re-flaunting his talent and skills on the felt table before another expected sellout crowd, this time at the Robinson’s Galleria, where Reyes will be as much tested as the rest of the star-studded field seeing action in the final leg of this year’s edition of the rich Asian 9-ball circuit kicking off May 29.

But for sure, Reyes will be a hands down pick to rule the forthcoming event what with a large dose of confidence he had gained in winning all but one of the four legs in the $250,000 nation-hopping circuit sponsored by San Miguel Beer, including that stirring come-from-behind victory over Korean Jeong Young Hwa in the Taiwan stop two weeks ago.

Never mind if the 32-man draw will include some of the region’s finest players, not to mention a crack bunch of local cue masters led by Francisco "Django" Bustamante. Never mind too if Reyes would be coming into the event reeling from an unexpected setback to Satoshi Kawabata of Japan right in the first round of the BCA Open in Las Vegas Tuesday.

For as long as Reyes keeps on displaying his deft touch and dishing off those world-class pocketing while weaving his magic in tight situations in the circuit, no one, it seems, could ever stop the amiable pool icon from gaining another crack at 9-ball glory.

With a pacesetting 250 ranking points in the Order of Merit derby and $33,000 in earnings, Reyes is assured of a stint in the World Pool Championship slated July 10-18 in Taiwan where he will be gunning for a second crown after ruling the 1999 edition in Cardiff, Wales.

Actually, the Hall of Famer has been playing down his chances in every tournament he competes in, particularly after he lost to Yang Ching Shun of Taiwan in the semifinal round in Hong Kong that cut short his back-to-back runs in the first two legs of the circuit organized by ESPN STAR Sports’ Event Management Group in Singapore and Vietnam.

"Medyo may edad na tayo at hindi na ganun ka-sharp ang laro ko tulad noong araw," said Reyes, who will be celebrating his golden year in August. "Pero minsan binibwenas pa rin at nakakatim pa rin ng panalo."

But the funny thing about good fortune is that it almost always falls on truly talented players.

One rack away from defeat, Reyes swept the last four frames to fashion out a 12-10 victory over Jeong in their extended duel he highlighted with a sensational jump shot in the final rack, one that was not even in his arsenal of trick shots.

"The more pressure I get, the more I concentrate," was all Reyes could say after pulling off that highly-improbable victory over Jeong.

Sure, playing before the local crowd will further provide Reyes the impetus to go for the crown although it could also give as much pressure from a talented roster out to foil the sentimental favorite’s bid for a fourth title.

Whatever, the fifth and final leg of the circuit promises to be nothing but a humdinger.