Billiard champ Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes still alive, daughter says

Filipino billiard champ Efren “Bata” Reyes is still alive, his daughter said on Saturday, amid social media posts saying he has already died.

“Sa mga nagsshare at nakakabasa ng mga lumalabas na balitang patay na si tatay, huwag po kayo maniwala, FAKE NEWS lang po yan..,” Chelo Reyes said in a post on Facebook.

“DIYOS NA BAHALA SA INYONG NAGPAPAKALAT NG GANYANG BALITA. #DiNakakatuwa kakatapos nga lang niya mag-almusal e..,” she wrote, attaching a video of Reyes waving to the camera and a screenshot of a post going around social media regarding his reported death.

“OK lang ako!” Reyes shouted to viewers in the video, even raising his hand.

Reyes, 66, has won multiple titles and is considered a legend in the field of billiards. He was the World Eight-ball champion four times, and won the 1999 WPA World Nine-ball Championship. Reyes also won in the Derby City Classic and the World Cup of Pool, among others.

In 2019, Reyes saw action at the Southeast Asian Games, taking home the bronze medal.

At that time, the billiard champ known as "The Magician" acknowledged that age may be catching up on him.

"Hindi ko na maitaas. Wala na 'yung magic ko ngayon. Hindi na ko puwede mag-mase, hindi na ako puwede mag-kaliwa, masakit na. Kaya 'yung mga dating tinitira ko na may magic, wala na. Hindi na gagana," he said. —KG, GMA News