Legends duel in 15-ball rotation tiff

MANILA, Philippines - Ronnie Alcano, the former double world champion out to snap a long title drought, tries to regain winning ways as he goes up against pool icon Efren “Bata” Reyes in a 15-ball rotation match on June25-26 at the Annex building of SM North Edsa in Quezon City.

Dubbed as The Challenge of the Legend: The Maestro versus The Volcano, the event showcases the talent and skills of two of the country’s billiards players in a one-on-one match expected to go down-to-the-wire.

“It’s been a long time since I won. So, I can say I’m hungry for title,” said Alcano, who has not won a major title since becoming only the third man to reign as the world 9-ball and 8-ball champion at the same time in 2007.

“That’s why when I learned that I will be playing with Efren, I got excited and started training,” said Alcano.

He added that it is an honor to play against Reyes, whom he idolized since he was a kid.

Reyes is considered as the best rotation player in the world during his prime – and perhaps until today.

“Rotation is the original pool game of the Filipinos and Efren is the best in it, especially during his prime,” said Bugsy Promotions head Perry Mariano, who put up the event presented by Camella Communities in cooperation with the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines and sanctioned by the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines.

“Actually, we believe that up to now Efren is still the best rotation player in the world, well, until Ronnie proves otherwise,” said Mariano.

The match will be a race-to-9 affair and to be aired live on ABS-CBN’s Studio 23 from 2 to 6 p.m.

The event will have two undercards, the first of which is the JBETpoker.net Scotch Doubles All-Star Challenge, a four-way tournament featuring the tandems of former world No.1 Dennis Orcollo and Asian Games gold medalist Gandy Valle (Bugsy Promotions); former world champion Alex Pagulayan and Rodolfo Luat (Puyat Sports); Lee Van Corteza and Warren Kiamco (Negros Billiards Stable); and Ramil Gallego and Antonio Lining (BMPAP Selection).