Bata, Corteza open Pattaya billiards bids

MANILA, Philippines - Efren “Bata” Reyes and Lee Vann Corteza exude confidence as they open their bid in the Pattaya 9-ball Invitational Pool Competition today at the Royal Garden Plaza in Pattaya, Thailand.

Reyes and Corteza are among the 17 leading players in the world invited to the three-day event with the Filipino bets confident of their respective title chances.

“I hope to do well in this event,” said the 31-year-old Corteza, who reached the semis in the recent China 9-ball Open.

Others in the fold are 2008 World 10-ball champion Darren Appleton of Great Britain, Bobby Lee Chenman of Hong Kong, Takashi Uraoka, Taguchi Kenji and Tomoo Takano of Japan, Chan Keng Kwang of Singapore, Lui Hui Chan, Fu Che Wei, Liu Chien Cheih, Wong Kuo Ping and Chang Yu Long of Chinese-Taipei, and Nitiwat Kanjanasri of Thailand.