A fantastic $500,000 or approximately P25 million will be at stake in the first Efren “Bata” Reyes Cup, an international tournament scheduled to be launched early next year in Quezon City which is fast growing into a center of big-time pool events.
The event will be in honor of the greatest pool player of all-time and will be presented by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) in cooperation with Bugsy Promotions of passionate pool enthusiast Perry Mariano, Puyat Sports which is headed by the original godfather of Philippine pool and Runout Promotions.
BMPAP president, lawyer Vic Rodriguez said that “Besides honoring the greatest player who has played the game, we're also living up to our tag as the best billiards-playing nation in the world and our country being the epicenter of the sport.”
The first Efren “Bata” Reyes Cup is certain to attract the finest pool players in the world who will vie for the prestigious title and the top prize of $150,000 or around P7.5 million.
In another attractive come-on the champion will have a chance at facing Reyes, known around the world as “The Magician” with a $50,000 bounty on the head of Reyes.
The 55-year-old Reyes sparked the incredible growth of the sport and pool halls all around the country when he won the World Pool Championship in Cardiff in 1999.
Reyes has won every conceivable title at stake in the world of pool including the US Open, the World 8-Ball Championship, million-dollar IPT World 8-Ball Open Championship and the inaugural edition of the World Cup of Pool with bosom buddy Francisco “Django” Bustamante as his partner.
Reyes also topped the Azbilliards Money List five times, including one in 2006 where he posted a record earning of $646,000.
Several Filipinos who in recent years have emerged from the shadow of the pool icon will compete in the Reyes Cup including 2006 World Pool Champion and World 8-Ball king Ronnie Alcano, 2004 World Pool Champion and former US Open champion Alex “The Lion” Pagulayan, former world no.1 Dennis Orcollo and World Pool Championship runner-up Django Bustamante along with veteran internationalists Lee Van Corteza, Warren Kiamco, Ramil Gallego, Gandy Valle, Roberto Gomez and Rodolfo Luat.
