Mesmeric Cues

EFREN "Bata" Reyes is a legend. Not only in his own time, but maybe of all time. Known as "The Magician" in the pool galaxy, Bata is recognized as one of the beloved sportsman in the world. He's the favorite among the favorites, standing aloft in the company of the other greats; Earl strickland, Johnny Archer and countryman Francisco "Django" Bustamante.

Cool and calculated under pressure, Bata Reyes has captivated audiences with his golden grace and plethora of spells that leave opponents humbled and mesmerized. Despite stumbling into a brick of unlucky breaks in Cardiff, going down 5-9 to an inspired Dutchman Niels Fiejen in the round of 32, the Reyes aura and magic were still evident. It was the break, nothing more. Pool is always a game of chance.

But with everything being even, Bata Reyes towers above the rest. His execution can match his imagination, according to Sky Sports commentator Sid Waddell. He could summon marvelous shots after marvelous shots from the depths of his magical reputation. When he plays the top guns sit at ringside to watch him. They could always learn from the finest.

Pool fans know the Bata Reyes saga only too well. Typical rags to riches. Born in Mexico, Pampanga, his pool genius was reared in his uncle's pool house in Sta. Cruz, Manila. Living, breathing and dreaming pool, Bata learned the tricks of the trade at an early age. He was only nine when he started betting on his game and still in puberty when he toured Luzon for pick-up games. While on the road, he mastered trick shots just by observing bad players and their plays.

Bata didn't take naturally to school, he finished only second year high school. Forced by circumstances to spend his youth at his uncle's Lucky 13 Billiard Hall, he spent humid nights sleeping on top of a pool table. The road to glory was more or less bumpy. Bata survived on bets during the early days. The Puyat brothers took him and other Filipino cue artists under their wing, and the rest, as the cliche goes, is history.

The number of awards, accolades, and honors Bata has reaped for the country has been countless and enormous. Through his triumphs, doors were opened for fellow Filipinos to showcase their pool prowess. Right now, Filipinos are the most feared and revered cue masters in the pro circuit, and the Philippines is a third world enclave notwithstanding. As dear Earl Strickland puts it, it's all because of Efren Reyes.

In Cardiff though, Bata and co. fell short of expectations from their fellow practitioners in our pool mecca. But it was nonetheless a fine showing. There's always next year. In Bata's case, it was merely the breaks. But rest assured that he'll be back to reclaim his title.

A few eyebrow raisers may sometimes view pool differently. A picture of shabby joints with their fair share of hustlers and inebriated souls may come to mind. But in the international scene, pool is a sport of royalty. Thanks to Bata Reyes, the non-believers are slowly transforming into devotees.

This may sound quaint, but Bata Reyes makes us proud to be a Filipino. He's one of the proponents of the tenet that when you're a Filipino, you're good.*

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