IT WAS a tension-filled game that left the crowd in disbelief when 15-year-old AJ Manas crushed the legendary billiards world champion, Efren “Bata” Reyes, in a score of 8-5 in the 64-player knockout semi-finals round in the 1st Mayor Albee Benitez MassKara Billiards Tournament at the SM City North Atrium Wednesday, October 5, 2022.
It was not the only upset though. Another seeded billiards player, Dennis Orcollo, who ranks fifth in the country, was also eliminated by Cebuano’s pride, Boots Augusto, in a tight fight that ended 8-7.
However, another billiards luminary, Francisco “Django” Bustamante, was able to beat Sid Tingson of La Carlota by 8-3 to advance to the final rounds.
When Reyes and Manas took centerstage, the tension immediately ensued after the 15-year-old wonder boy who hails from Antipolo took a lead of three straight games.
When Reyes took the turn to cue the ball, there was silence in the atrium and every missed shot the champ did was met with stunned reaction from the audience. Yet, Reyes who is known as “the magician” gamely laughed off every mistake he made.
Manas clearly showed dominance early on in the game despite dropping the 10th ball into the corner pocket, giving the game away to Reyes in a 7-5 score.
In the succeeding round, however, Reyes who was four balls shy of winning the game, shocked everyone when he missed a corner shot on the 10th ball, ending his tournament run and the chance to pocket the grand prize of P350,000.
Even Reyes looked shocked at the outcome as he walked away from the table, seemingly dejected. However, he returned back to his chair after a while to greet fans, signed autographs, and took selfies with them.
As news of the upset reverberated in the national news, netizens and fans alike still congratulated the legend saying Reyes will remain a champion in their eyes while others are saying, it is nice to pass the baton to the younger talents.
Manas is of course not new in the billiards circuit as he, at a young age, is already a member of the Philippine team. This win against Reyes, though, brings his standing to another level.
Before he faced off with Reyes, Manas also booted out another billiards champion, Jerico Banares in an earlier game.
Other highlighted games showed Dean Mark Castronuevo defeating Clint Anoba with a score of 8-2 while Raymond Faraon lost to Anjo Huelgas with a score of 8-3 while Alvin Anggito from Jakarta, Indonesia bested Jonas Magpantay with an 8-5 score and advancing to the final rounds today.
Rodrigo Geronimo won against Anton Raga with a score of 8-5, Warren Kiamco also won the set with 8 against Demosthenes Pulpul’s score of 5 while Jundel Mazon advanced after winning against Chezka Centeno at 8-7.
Local players who are advancing to the final rounds are Talisay City’s Daboy Apuhin and Noel Caro from Dumaguete City.
Other locals who made it to the 64-player knockout round were Bacolod’s Johann Chua, Kamz Guerrero, Jarry Pelayo and Janjan Javelona, while Carlo Miraflor joined Tingson to represent La Carlota.
Ramil Gallego from Pontevedra also made it to the 64-player knockout round along with Hinigaran’s Delfin Tugado, Jekjek Alonsagay from Kabankalan, and from Negros Oriental, Japhet Narciso from Mabinay with Noel and Manuel Caro from Dumaguete also made it to the round.
Chua, Alonsagay and Tugado will see action today and hopefully bring in more locals to the final round. (PR)