PHILIPPINE billiards icon Efren "Bata" Reyes is once again at the top of his game after winning the 10th Annual Predator International 10-Ball Championship here at the block in SM North Edsa, Quezon City, Saturday night.
Reyes, the top player of Puyat sports, showed his vintage form by outclassing countryman Roberto "Pinoy Superman" Gomez (9-8) in the finals to win the championship trophy and pocket the US$10,000 top prize.
Gomez jumped ahead 5-2 and led 7-4 before Reyes rallied by clustering four straight racks to reach the hill at 8-7.
Gomez tied the match at 8-all, but an empty break in the 17th rack was Gomez's last trip to the table as Reyes won the final rack including a spectacular bank shot on the two ball to keep control of the table.
Reyes, the Philippine's most popular billiards player, and Gomez, the 2007 World Pool Finalist, warded off separate rivals yesterday to earn an all-Filipino showdown.
Reyes ousted lone US hopeful Rodney "Rocket" Morris, 9-5, in the second second-final match.
Gomez, on the other hand, eliminated countryman Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, 9-3 in the 1st semi-final match. Gomez trailed that match 0-3, but waited for his chance and clustered nine straight racks.
The event was organized by Dragon Promotions and supported by Predator CEO/ President Karim Belhaj and long-time billiards patron Sebastian "Baste" Chua.
