Bata, 15 others off to big start

MANILA, Philippines - Sixteen Filipinos led by pool legend Efren “Bata” Reyes and Lee Vann Corteza got off to a big start in the 2010 World Pool Championships (World 9-Ball) in Doha, Qatar.

The 55-year-old Reyes, fresh from his victory in the Spanish Open last week in Vigo, Spain, blanked Ihab Hassan of Egypt, 9-0, on Friday to join 15 other Filipinos in the Last 64.

Antonio Gabica and Jeffrey de Luna also made it to the next phase of the $250,000 event which offers $36,000 to the champion.

Corteza toppled Mohanna Obaidly of Qatar, 9-3, Gabica nipped Corey Deuel of the US, 9-3, and De Luna waylaid Khalid Almutari of Kuwait, 9-3.

Other Filipino pool sharks who made it to the knockout stage were Dennis Orcullo, Ronato Alcano, Antonio Lining, Venancio Tanio, Allan Cuartero, Francisco Felisilda, Raymund Faraon, Oliver Medenilla, Israel Rota, Venancio Tanio, Marlon Manalo and Joven Alba.

In the Last 64, it will be De Luna versus Chang Jung-lin, Felisilda versus Bashar Hussain, Faraon versus Artem Koshovoj of Ukraine, Manalo versus Lu Hui Chan, Alba versus Shane Van Boening, Bustamante versus Oliver Ortmann, Corteza versus Tony Drago, Medenilla versus Yukio Akakariyama, Lining versus Lee Poh Soon, Reyes versus Johnny Archer, Orcullo versus Bruno Muratore, Tanio versus Ralf Souquet, Cuartero versus Nick Van Den Berg, Alcano versus Muhammad Zulfikri, Rota versus Jason Klatt and Gabica versus Craig Osbome.