INQUIRER Sports

DAVAO CITY?EFREN ?BATA? REYES still weaves his old magic.

Flashing deadly form again, Reyes trounced Ramil Gallego, 11-5, to rule The Manny Villar Cup Kadayawan leg before an adoring throng at the NCCC Mall here Sunday night.

It was Reyes? first victory in the series and his first major title in almost three years, proving that he?s still worthy of the ?Magician? moniker even as he turns 55 tomorrow.

But for a while there, the memory of Reyes? finals defeat to Warren Kiamco in the event?s inaugural leg in Alabang last year lingered.

Committing a couple of miscues, the two-time world champion Reyes allowed Gallego to surge ahead, 5-2.

Egged on by about 3,000 fans, however, Reyes rediscovered his touch to draw level at 5-5.

Then it was the turn of Gallego, a four-time Villar Cup finalist and the Bulacan leg titlist, to falter, scratching on the money-ball in the 11th rack and yielding the lead to Reyes.

Reyes pocketed the next five racks to seal the title, his first since topping the Derby City Classic in Kentucky in January 2007.

?I?m really very happy that I finally won the Villar Cup,? Reyes said in Filipino. ?I?m dedicating this victory to the senator (Villar) for his unwavering support to billiards.?

Reyes, a mainstay of Puyat Sports of businessman Putch Puyat, competed in all past legs of the series supported by Camella Communities.

En route to the title, Reyes bested rising star Jomar de Ocampo, 10-7, in the semifinals, Mike Takayama, 9-3, in the quarterfinals and Carlo Biado in, 9-8, in the round of 16.

?This is a good birthday present for Efren,? said Puyat. ?He continues to provide inspiration to all aspiring billiards players.?

Villar awarded the trophy and the P300,000 champion?s prize to Reyes.

Gallego, who settled for P120,000, said he didn?t mind losing to Reyes.

Lawyer Vic Rodriguez, president of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines, said Reyes? victory is be a big boost to his preparation for the Laos Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane in December.