Bata, Amit set title duel with Koreans

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines’ Efren “Bata” Reyes and Rubilen Amit played a near-flawless game this time as they overpowered Team Europe’s Mika Immonen of Finland and Borana Andoni of Albania, 7-1, yesterday to arrange a title showdown with Team Korea in the 2009 World Mixed Doubles Classic at the Nuvo City Lifestyle Center in Libis, Quezon City.

The one-sided victory was far from their error-prone 7-4 win over the Japanese pair of Hayato Hijikata and Kaori Ebe in the opener of the event where the Filipinos needed to lean on a couple of lucky breaks to break out of a four-all count and post their first win.

Against Immonen and Andoni, Reyes and Amit were all business, seizing control early and never giving their rivals a chance to recover with superb pocketing.

Earlier, Team Korea’s Charlie Williams and Park Eun Ji spoiled a projected all-Filipino finale as they beat the host country’s second team, Lee Van Cortez and Fil-Am Shannelle Loraine, 7-3.

The RP-Korea final is set today.

Reyes, a former world 9-ball and 8-ball champion, said he was impressed with Amit’s superb pocketing and solid breaks.

“She’s the main reason why we won, she showed better pocketing and breaking than me,” said Reyes referring to her pint-sized but power-hitting partner.

But Amit, winner of the inaugural world 10-ball women’s championship, refused to take the credit and said it was Reyes who anchored their romp.

“We all know him, he’s always humble, but the truth is, he carried us to this win,” said Amit, who admitted to have had a hard time shaking off jitters against the Japanese.

“I struggled in our first game together. I was afraid to make mistakes because I’m playing with my idol, that’s why I keep on committing mistakes and bad shots,” Amit said. “But he (Efren) told me to just be myself and relax, I did that and it really helped me.”

Immonen, who ruled the recent World 10-ball Championship, was far from top form against the RP duo, missing a textbook shot, making a scratch and coming up with poor preparation for his partner.

“I played a horrible game,” said Immonen, who also retained his US Open title.

Team Europe still placed second in Group A and gained a shot for third place in the $12,000 tournament supported by Puyat Sports, ABS-CBN Sports, ESPN-Star Sports and The Philippine STAR.

Team Korea clinched the first finals berth in the event presented by Nuvo Land Philippines, Inc. and Dragon Promotions by beating Team Philippines B. The pair of Charlie Williams and Eun Ji Park topped Group B with a 2-0 mark.

Corteza and Loraine will take on Team USA’s Shane Van Boening and Amy Chen in the evening session for the right to vie for third.

The 10-ball tournament, produced by Dragon Promotions, is telecast live on ESPN Star Sports and ABS-CBN throughout Asia and the Philippines.