Efren Bata: 'Focus to become champs'

Saturday, March 19, 2011

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Multi-titlist world billiard champion Efren Bata "The Magician" Reyes told aspiring pool enthusiasts and wannabe champs to focus on the game and harness their skills if they wanted to get to the top.

Reyes on Friday afternoon graced Rofer's Billiards 10-ball open tournament held at the Central City Terminal here, where some 60 billiard aspirants from as far as Bulacan and Manila took on the tables for the race to seven contests.

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Reyes, who himself said had come from a small and simple corner billiard hall in Angeles City, said that it takes more than talent to become a world champion.

"Ang kailangan sa larong ito ay focus. Kailangan concentrated ka sa laro, diskarte at abilidad. Walang bisyo, focus lang," he said.

He told Sun.Star Pampanga that local tournaments such as the Rofer's 10-ball tourney are good venues for budding champions.

"Medyo siguro mahirap agad maabot ang narating na natin. Katulad ko, mahirap din ang ating dinaanan pero ang mga ganitong local tournament ay maganda para sa mga nais magkaroon ng pangalan sa billiards," said the "magician" who is known for his astounding trick shots.

Organizer Romy Balanan and tournament director Monching "Maestro" Mystica corroborated Reyes' statements, saying it was precisely the objective of the first-ever tournament to harness the potentials of the players.

"We really would want to give that opportunity for aspiring champions to show their best against each other," they said.

The top four players will receive cash prizes of P30,000; P20,000; P10,000; and P5,000 respectively.

The tournament was sponsored by St. Catherine Realty Corporation, RTE Construction, Arturo Manahan Construction, First Pampanga Perpetual Development Corporation, Rene Nuqui and Associates, OCDC-Universal Robina Corporation and in part by Cola-Cola Bottlers and San Miguel Beer.