Young Reyes joinsdad in Asian 9-ball

Six players including Frennie Reyes, son of Efren "Bata" Reyes, will represent the Philippines in the opening leg of the 2004 Asian 9-Ball Tour in Singapore this weekend.

The young Reyes joined the team led by his father and Francisco "Django" Bustamante at the invitation of tournament organizer ESPN which want "some interesting angle for TV," Frennie being the son of a famous player.

The other members of the Philippine team are Warren Kiamco, who qualified on the basis of his second place finishes in the Singapore and Philippine legs of the Asian Tour last year, and Lee Van Corteza and Antonio Gabica, who won the elimination tournament among the country’s top 16 players last week.

Frennie, 20, is in his second year in Computer Science at Holy Angel College in Angeles City. He started playing pool only three years ago. "It’s just a sport for him," his father Efren said, "We want him to finish college and pursue profession."

The team, accompanied by Reyes’ manager Rolly Vicente, flies to Singapore on Thursday, Feb. 26. Puyat Sports President Aristeo "Putch" Puyat follows the next day to attend the tournament on Feb. 28-29.

The next legs of the Asian Tour are: Vietnam - March 14-15; Hong Kong -April 17-18; Taiwan — May 7-9; Philippines — May 29-30.