Bata humbles Pulpul, rules Pacquiao 10-ball tourney

GENERAL SANTOS CITY—He is 60 years old and ripe to be a grandfather, but Efren “Bata” Reyes turned back the years to rule the MP (Manny Pacquiao) Cup Philippine Open 10-Ball championship Friday night at SM City Mall here.

The country’s longtime billiards ambassador, Reyes capped his unexpected victory with a brilliant display of finesse and class in downing the brash Demosthenes Pulpul, 11-10, who could have showed more respect by conceding when Reyes was about to sink the final ball on a “gimme” in the 21st game of the match.

Pulpul reached the finals by virtue of a rules infraction by World No. 7 Carlo Biado, who, by sheer excitement, did not call his final shot and committed a foul that allowed the Cagayan de Oro native to escape with the win. It was the same rules infraction that clinched Pulpul’s win in his Round-of-32 match against Roberto Gomez, who also forgot to declare the pocket for his 10-ball shot.

Against Reyes, who declared that he would sink the final ball on the left corner pocket, Pulpul did not budge or concede like most sportsmen do in the sport. After nailing the final shot, Reyes did his victory jig and received a thunderous applause from spectators.

Reyes received the top prize of $13,000 from Pacquiao, who also competed in the eliminations. Pacquiao, who is celebrating his 36th birthday on the 17th, bankrolled the $150,00 event and will be teaming up with world champion Ronnie Alcano in the doubles event Sunday.

Reyes will team up with best friend Francisco “Django” Bustamante at the start of the doubles elimination Saturday.

Now lacking in breaking power, Reyes leans mostly on wily plays in beating his opponents, including journeyman Benjie Guevarra, who fell in the semifinals, 9-8.

Pulpul had his moments of brilliance, too, against Reyes, tying the race-to-11 series with an accurate jump shot on No. 8 to send the match into a sudden-death 21st game. In the final game with Pulpul breaking, the Cagayan bet also sank No. 8 and was set to clean the table up until he overplayed No. 6 after a poor preparation shot on No. 5.

Reyes finished the tournament unbeaten. His other victims were Jerome Adolfo, Horace Angor, American Rodney Morris, his best friend Bustamante and John Morra of Canada.

So respectful was Guevarra that he conceded defeat to Reyes in the deciding 17th game before Bata could sink the final ball to the delight of the crowd.