Bata to dish out A-game vs Alcano

MANILA, Philippines – Billiards icon Efren “Bata” Reyes and former double world champion Ronnie Alcano start their duel for pool supremacy today in the Villards Challenge of the Legend: The Maestro versus The Volcano at the Skydome of SM North Edsa in Quezon City.

“It’s going to be a very exciting match,” said Reyes, who, at 55, remains one of the best players in the world.

“I know that Ronnie has been very vocal on his desire to beat me every time we meet. He said he is always at his best every time he plays me. So I’m taking it as a challenge and I will be at my best come game time,” said Reyes, who won the world 9-ball championship in 1999 and the world 8-ball championship in 2004.

Although Reyes insists he is the underdog after losing to Alcano in their last encounter, observers note the match remains even with the two players considered as the best in 15-ball rotation, the format of the duel.

The event is presented by Sen. Manny Villar’s Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports in cooperation with the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines, sponsored by Camella Communities and JBETpoker.net, and supported by ABS-CBN, The Philippine STAR and the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines.

The event will be shown live on ABS-CBN’s Studio 23 from 2 to 6 p.m. It will also have a live streaming in the internet via www.jbet.net.

“Although this one will be played in a different field, in rotation, I will still use that loss as a motivation against him,” said Reyes, who is also out to snap out of a long title drought.