‘Bata’ snatches Predator title from Gomez

 ‘I thought I was going to lose, 10-1,’ says Reyes

MANILA, Philippines–EFREN “BATA” REYES thought he’ll never pull off some of the shots that made him one of billiard’s biggest names in the world and earned him the monicker “Magician.”

It turned out he didn’t need much of that wizardry yesterday.

In a finale lacking awe-inspiring shots that have become a trademark of Filipino players, Reyes prevailed over compatriot Robert Gomez, 10-9, to snatch the 10th Annual Predator International 10-Ball Championship at the Block in SM North Edsa in Quezon City.

“This win is special because there are few tournaments being held here in the Philippines,” the 56-year-old Reyes, winner of the World 9-Ball Championship in 1999, said in Filipino.

“I thought I was going to lose, 10-1, with the way Robert was playing but I guess I got lucky again.”

Capitalizing on Gomez’s poor positional plays and  safety shots, Reyes rallied from 1-5 down to reach the hill first after the 17th rack, where Gomez made a horrible safety on the red 3 that opened up the table for Reyes for an easy cleanup.

Gomez struck back on the next rack, though, winning a brief exchange of safeties before cleaning up the table with ease.

He looked headed to finally shedding his underachiever tag that has hounded him since crumbling in the pressure-packed World Pool Championship finals against Englishman Daryl Peach in Manila three years ago after making it a hill-hill game.

But after potting the yellow 1, Gomez was forced to play a safety on No. 2 after failing to gain position for his next shot. A poor safety then allowed Reyes to bank in the blue 2.

Reyes cleaned up the rack to claim the $10,000 top purse and his second title of the year, after the Derby City Classic in the United States in January.

It was the second come-from-behind victory for the day for Reyes, who also erased an early deficit to repulse American Rodney Morris, 9-5, in the semifinals.

Gomez flashed impressive form in disposing of Lee Van Corteza, 9-3, in the other semifinal duel, but just couldn’t get over the hump in a final of a major tournament.

“I’m getting used to second place,” said Gomez, who settled for the runner-up purse $5,000 and also placed second recently with Dennis Orcollo in the recent World Cup of Pool won by China’s Li Hewen and Fu Jianbo. “But I can take consolation on the fact that this is my best performance in a finals match.”