Team East Captain Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes of the Philippines prepares to make a shot as opponent Team West Captain Mika Immonen of Finland looks on during the King’s Cup in The Plaza, Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila in Pasay City.
RICHARD A. REYES
Efren “Bata” Reyes wove that old black magic once again Friday night.
The 61-year-old pool great shone as East struck back in Day 2 bagging the first two matches of the evening to tie its duel against West at four matches all in the Kings Cup Asia vs Europe/United States pool championship at Resorts World Manila.
The country’s legendary pool master and Chinese Taipei’s Ko Ping-chung clinched the first two matches against Albin Ouschan of Austria and Mike Immonen of Finland.
Ko totally dominated the first singles match, winning an easy 5-0 to bolster the morale of East which trailed the West after Day 1, 4-2.
But it was Reyes’ triumph that hogged the spotlight, as he ripped fellow two-time world champion Immonen, 5-2, for the tying win in the highly anticipated Captains’ Match.
The 1999 world 9-ball and 2004 8-ball champion gave the big hometown crowd the match they longed for, flicking shots with his usual flair to storm to 4-0.
The prestigious meet employs 10-ball rules on all events with alternate breaks.