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'Bata' weaves magic anew in World 8-Ball tilt


Efren “Bata" Reyes is continuously weaving his magic in the World 8-Ball Championship at the Fujairah Exhibition Center in Fujairah United Arab Emirates. On Tuesday, the double world champion outlasted fellow Filipino Dennis Orcullo, 7-5, to lead the Pinoys’ charge in the winners' side of this first ranking event of the sanctioning World Pool-Billiard Association.

Efren 'Bata' Reyes (left) celebrates with partner Francisco 'Django' Bustamante in this file photo in the World Cup of Pool. Reyes remained as one of the few unbeaten Filipino players in the World 8-Ball Championship in Fujairah, UAE. GMA News
Joining Reyes as unbeaten Filipino players so far are Antonio Lining, double world champion Ronnie Alcano, former World Ten Ball runner-up Lee Van Corteza, ex-World 9-Ball runner-up Roberto Gomez and Rodolfo Luat. Lining, a veteran campaigner who spent the past few years competing in Japan, scuttled another Filipino player, Jepthant Palencia, 7-2. Alcano, champion of this event four years ago and also the winner in the World 9-Ball event in 2006, defeated compatriot Ramil Gallego, 7-4. Corteza, who placed second behind Mika Immonen of Finland in the World Ten Ball Championship in Manila two years ago, outplayed Mehdi Rasheki, 7-3. Gomez, runner-up to Daryl Peach in the 2007 staging of the World 9-Ball Championship in Manila, pulled off a stunning upset over three-time world titlist Ralf Souquet of Germany in a hill-hill match, 7-6. Luat nipped a crack player in Marcus Chamat of Sweden, 7-5. But Reyes and Lining now find themselves pitted against each other on Wednesday. Reigning World 9-Ball champion Francisco “Django" Bustamante fought former world champ Daryl Peach of Great Britain to a hill-hill encounter and lost, 6-7. Bustamante will next face David Alcaide, who won 7-4, in the losers' side of the Group 2 matches. Joyme Vicente kept his hopes alive after defeating Andrew King, 7-2. But his next assignment won’t be an easy one as he will go up against former world No.1 player Orcullo. Jeff de Luna also found himself alive and kicking, this after walloping Frailin Guanipa, 7-2, in the losers' side match of Group 5. Another Pinoy, Elvis Calasang, went through the eye of the needle before edging out Young Hwa Jeong of South Korea in a hill-hill encounter, 7-6. Vicente Taino also survived for another day, winning 7-2 over Abdulla Juma. But the Filipino cue artist faces an acid test in his next match as he goes up against former world No.1 player and reigning World Ten Ball champ Immonen. - KY, Rey Joble, GMA News