US media names Bata Reyes best pool player

Efren "Bata" Reyes, the country’s undisputed billiards icon, is also now the decade’s best pool player. Indeed, Reyes’ magic once on the pool table, is remarkable. Reyes was the unanimous choice by the United States Billiards Media Association’s (USBMA) best player of the decade.

The Filipino cue master was picked among a handful of candidates that included two-time world champion Johnny Archer of the United States, world No.1 player Mika Immonen of Finland and double world champion Ralf Souquet of Germany. Only recently, the 55-year-old pride of Pampanga captured his fifth straight Master of the Table crown in Indiana, hiking his all-time total prize money to $1.7 million, according to azbilliards.com . Reyes’ last major title was the World Cup of Pool last year when he teamed up with his buddy Django Bustamante to beat the formidable duo of Germany’s Souquet and Thorsten Hohman. It was the second time that the Bustamante-Reyes tandem won the tournament as they also topped the 2006 edition beating Americans Earl Strickland and Rodney Morris in the finals. "He (Efren) is an inspiration to Filipinos," said Reyes’ long-time benefactor Aristeo "Putch" Puyat. Reyes won more than 20 major men’s professional pool titles during the decade, starting with the $30,000 Camel Pro 8-Ball Championship in 2000. Of his 22 major victories, the versatile Reyes won four one-pocket crowns, four 8-ball titles and 15 9-ball awards. He was also a five-time winner in the Derby City All-Around. Reyes’ most dramatic win came in 1999 when he became the first Filipino to win the World Pool Championship. Allison Fisher of Great Britain was named Player of the Decade in the women’s side, defeating compatriot Karen Korr and Jasmin Osuchan of Austria. – GMANews.TV