13-year-old billiards prodigy from Sarangani dreams to follow footsteps of Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes

A 13-year-old boy from Sarangani dreams of conquering the world of billiards, just like his idol Efren “Bata” Reyes.

According to an episode of “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,” Jaybee first learned to play billiards when he was nine years old.

He began as a spotter at a billiards place, fetching balls for the players. Small as he was, he could not reach the table yet so he practiced using marbles. For the cue, he used a stem from an ipil-ipil tree.

“Tinuruan ako ng aking Papa, paano planuhin, ang technique ng billiard [My father taught me billiards],” Jaybee said.

Three years later, the boy has blossomed into a young prodigy. At 12, he began competing in various tournaments in General Santos City, beating opponents two or three times his age.

Even Adam, the owner of the billiards place in their barangay, said no one is a match for Jaybee in their area except for him.

“Sa ngayon, natatakot sila sa kanya. Wala nang babangga sa kanya. Ako lang [Right now, they are scared of him. No one else wants to go up against him but me],” he said.

Adam, 42, has been playing billiards for 12 years. But even he lost to Jaybee when they played a first to five match.

“Dati, hindi ako kinakabahan. Ngayon, kaba na ako e kasi mas magaling na siya sa akin [Before, I never get nervous. It’s different now as he is already better than me],” he said.

Jaybee takes home around P500 to P7,000 in prize money from playing billiards. He gives his winnings to his parents to help his family.

His father, Bobby, is a banana farmer while his mother, Jessica stays at home to take care of his four siblings.

Even though Jaybee is already helping them earn a living through billiards, Bobby tells his son to prioritize his education.

“Sinabihan ko na siya na ‘Bee, kung ano man ang gusto mo ipagpatuloy mo lang ‘yan. Pero, siguraduhin mo ang pag-aaral mo. Bago ka mag-billiard, mag-aral ka muna para maipatuloy mo ang nalalaman mo sa larong ‘yan,” he said.

(“I told him, ‘Bee, do what you want to do. But make sure you don’t neglect your studies. Before you play billiards, study first so you can hone your knowledge of the game.”)

Jaybee heeded his father’s advice.

“Nag-aaral muna ako. Kapag tapos na ang aral, tapos mag-module, pupunta ako sa mga bilyaran, doon mag-e-ensayo na rin ako. Gusto kong matapos ng pag-aaral, 'yang billiard nandiyan lang 'yan,” he said.

(“I always put my studies first. After I finish my modules, I go to the billiards place and practice. I want to finish my education [because] billiards will always be there.”)

Jaybee aims to go to Manila when he graduates from school and carve his own path as a billiards player.

“Gusto kong sumikat parehas kay Efren Bata. Para makatulong ako sa aking mga magulang. Magpapagawa kami ng bahay kasi madaling masira ang bahay namin,” he said.

(“I want to become famous like Efren Bata Reyes so I can help my parents. I want to build a new house for them.”)

Like many pool players, Jaybee has been mesmerized by the wizardry of The Magician.

“Siya 'yung pinakamagaling. 'Yung mga tricks niya wala nang sablay-sablay diretso na sa butas.  Gusto ko siyang makalaban. Gusto kong magpaturo ng mga technique kay idol Efren,” he said.

(“He’s the best. His tricks don’t miss. I want to play against him. I want to learn techniques from idol Efren.”)

The KMJS team flew Jaybee to meet his idol and give him the chance of a lifetime. Efren gamely played with the young prodigy, saying that he reminds him of himself and how he started with billiards.

Efren also taught Jaybee a few billiard tricks and gave him a cue, a little gift from a master of the craft to a young apprentice wishing to become like him someday.

—MGP, GMA News