‘The Pearl’ here to face Bata

American ace Earl "The Pearl" Strickland arrived yesterday from Japan and readily vowed to get back at Efren "Bata" Reyes in their keenly-awaited duel dubbed "The Color of Money, Part II" which begins Thursday at the Casino Filipino in Parañaque.

Although the five-time US Open champion is coming off a ninth place finish in the Japan Open, Strickland remains confident of his chances against Reyes in the $20,000 (P1 million) encounter, a gruelling race-to-33 9-ball clash sponsored by San Miguel Beer.

The winner will get $15,000 while the loser will receive for $5,000.

Strickland and Reyes will appear in a news conference at 12 noon today at the venue and will make a brief appearance at the weekly PSA Forum at the Holiday Inn Manila at 10:30 a.m.

Reyes, his morale boosted by his recent victory in the Supreme Masters of Billiards tournament where he came from behind to beat Francisco "Django" Bustamante, 13-10, beat Strickland in an epic three-day battle in "The Color of Money" at the Ridgeway Club in Hong Kong some four years ago.

The format is a race to 33 in three separate sessions. On the opening day, it will be a race to 11, telecast at 9 p.m. The second session which will also be a race to 11 will be telecast at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 31 while the final session which will end as one player reaches 33 will be telecast at 10 p.m. the same day.

Reyes has likewise looked forward to his rematch with Strickland since this will give him a chance to get even with the top-rated American pro, who beat the ace Filipino cue master in the RP-US 9-ball Challenge Championship at Metropolis Star Mall in Alabang last December.

Local fans are expected to come in full force to support their idol, whose stirring victory in the world 9-ball championship in Cardiff, Wales two years ago further endeared Reyes to the Filipino masses.