Reyes heads Villar Cup Final 4
By Marc Anthony Reyes
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:58:00 05/09/2008
MANILA, Philippines--Efren "Bata" Reyes put away three racks in succession to demolish Jharome Peña, 9-5, Friday night and barge into the semifinals of the First Senate President Manny Villar 9-Ball billiards championship at the Sportscenter of the Starmall Alabang.
The legendary, 53-year-old pool master strung up his third straight win to inch closer to his first title in two years.
"Buwenas lang. Sana bukas buwenas ulit ako [It was just luck. I hope I will still be lucky tomorrow]," said Reyes, who will next take on reigning national champion Lee Van Corteza.
Corteza eliminated Dennis Orcollo, 9-5, to also make the semifinals, which start at 10 a.m. Saturday. Finals begin later in the afternoon.
Gandy Valle exploded with two golden breaks and five runouts to overwhelm fellow Asian Games gold medalist Antonio "Nikoy" Lining, 9-3, and also barge into the semifinals. There, he will face Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Warren Kiamco, who ousted Elmer Haya, 9-5.
"Laging akin ang break, minsan two o three ang hulog, tapos maganda ang latag (I always get balls in the break, sometimes two or three, and then the set-up always favor me)," said the 31-year-old Valle.
Reyes, who has slipped in the world rankings the past two years, last won a title in September 2006, when he ruled the IPT World Open 8-ball. His victory there, though, was tainted by controversy when organizers in Reno, Nevada, delayed the awarding of his cash prize.
Reyes reached the quarterfinals needing to limber up before his last-16 match against giant-slayer Benjie Guevarra, whom he eventually trounced, 9-3.
Reyes took a nap in the gallery while waiting for his game at the center table. He woke up only when the tournament barker called out his name.
Still heavy with leftover sleep, the 1999 World Pool champion fell into a 1-3 hole before pouncing on a Guevarra dry break to win the next eight frames.
Guevarra had earlier created a buzz in this P1.2 million tournament by dealing 2006 World Pool (9-ball) champion Ronnie Alcano a first-round defeat.
Haya posted an upset of sort against Joven Bustamante, 9-4, in the last 16. The relatively unknown Haya, who defeated Guevarra in the second round, raced to a quick 5-0 win lead over Bustamante, who booted out Alcano late Thursday.
Kiamco routed Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat, 9-3, to gain the right to face Haya in the next round.
Lining, the Busan Asian Games doubles 9-ball champion, repeated over 18-year-old Mark Mendoza, 9-6, whom he defeated in the first round.
Valle survived a distraction to defeat Ramil Gallego, 9-5. Ahead at 7-2, Gallego called for a timeout in order to get back his bearings.
"Kung iba lang yung kalaban ko, hindi ako papayag, nakakasira ng momentum (If it's not Gallego, I wouldn't have allowed it, because it disrupts my momentum)," said Valle.
Orcollo, the SMB-QC champion, flexed his muscles to down Ricky Zerna, 9-2, while Corteza reached the quarterfinals with a 9-4 victory over Carlo Biado.
Peña edged Jundel Mazon, 9-8, in the last top 16 match to set up the duel with Reyes.
Meanwhile, Reyes and Alcano will see action in a race-to-four rotation match special side event after Saturday's finals.
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