Breaks didn’t go Bata’s way in 8-ball semifinal

BUSAN — His failure to cash in on the breaks led to his unbelievable early exit in the 8-ball singles competition of the 14th Asian Games here.

"Anim na break ko, walang nahulog sa butas," said Efren "Bata" Reyes, supposedly one of the country’s brightest hopes for the elusive gold medal.

But it just won’t happen in this Asiad as the 1999 world 9-ball champion failed to get past the semifinal round, losing to Chinese-Taipei’s Hsia Hui-kai, 9-7, Thursday.

A day after the sorry loss, which left the entire RP delegation under a pall of gloom, Reyes wore a long face as he spoke of the misfortune that hounded him in the semis at the Dongju College Gymnasium.

"Ang masama pa, benta sa kanya ang mga bola kaya natatapos niya ang rack. Pag-miss naman siya sa break, hirap ako dahil dikit-dikit ang mga bola," he said.

Reyes, who will also compete in the 3-cushion after settling for the 8-ball bronze, trailed 0-3 but managed to tie the match at 4 and 6.

Then trailing 7-8, the Pampanga native has another chance to tie and even break for the match, but he once again failed to sink the crucial shots.

"Tinira ko ang uno, dapat stop-ball, pero gumalaw at sumiksik sa gilid. Doon na ako natalo. Pag hindi ka binigyan ng break, mahirap manalo," he said.

"Nakuha ko nga ang unang break, wala namang nahulog. Pag break ko ulit, nahulog naman ang cue ball," added Reyes, who then took his hat off to his 27-year-old conqueror.

He said the Taiwanese will be hard to beat even in the 9-ball competition where Antonio Lining and Warren Kiamco were scheduled to compete in the individual event Friday.

Francisco "Django" Bustamante will see action only in the 9-ball doubles along with Lining on Sunday, and has vowed to avenge Reyes’ untimely exit.

"Nakakahiya kasi pag hindi tayo nanalo ng gold sa billiards," said Bustamante.