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Kiamco crushes Bata Reyes, bags Villar Cup


MANILA, Philippines - Warren Kiamco came back from a three-point hole to defeat Efren "Bata" Reyes, 11-6, and win the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Billiards Tournament crown on Saturday at the Sports Center of StarMall Alabang in Muntinlupa City. "Finally," was all the 38-year-old Cebuano could say after winning the tournament and the P400,000 top cash prize. "This title is more special to me because I won it against Efren, the best player in the world," Kiamco, a 2003 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, added in a statement released by organizers immediately after the match. Kiamco won his first round assignment against Jharome Pena, but eventually bowed to Jundel Mazon in his next match, pushing him to the losers' bracket. From the loser's bracket, Kiamco defeated Panfilo Damuag to enter the knockout stage. After that, he won over veteran internationalist Rodolfo Luat in the last 16 round, which he followed up with a triumph over Elmer Haya in the quarterfinals and former Asian Games gold medalist Gandy Valle, 9-5, in the semifinals to reach the title round. Reyes was undefeated in four previous matches, including a 9-5 win against reigning national champion Lee Van Corteza in the Final-Four, when he entered the first finals spot. Reyes won the lag, according to the organizers, but Kiamco won the opening rack and posted a 2-1 lead. Reyes waxed hot after that, winning the next four racks for a 5-2 lead. But Kiamco was hotter than Reyes, and unleashed a 5-0 explosion to take the lead at 7-5. Reyes did not give up at that juncture, closing in at 6-7 but failed to tie the match with a dry break. Kiamco took the opportunity to run out the racks and took the title. Reyes bagged the P200,000 runner-up prize while semifinalists Gandy Valle and Lee Van Corteza pocketed P50,000 each. - GMANews.TV
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