Efren “Bata” Reyes named Billiard Player of the Decade

After Manny Pacquiao, another Filipino continued winning accolades for the Philippines after he was named as the Billiard player of the decade by the United States Billiard Media Association (USBMA). He was no less than the Filipino pool master Efren “Bata” Reyes.

The 55-year-old billiards “magician” bested fellow former world champions Johnny “The Scorpion” Archer of the US , Mika “The Iceman” Immonen of Finland and Ralf “Kaiser” Souquet of Germany in the USBMA polls.

Reyes, who was already inducted into the Congress of America Hall (BCA) Hall of Fame in 2003, won more than 20 major men’s professional billiard titles in the past 10 years starting with his $30,000 Camel Pro 8-Ball Championship win in 2000.

Of his 22 major victories, the pool legend captured four one-pocket crowns, four 8-ball titles and 15 9-ball titles. He also ruled the Derby City All-Around tournament five times.

He scored his biggest wins in the International Pool Tour (IPT), where he won 2 titles (2005 IPT King of the Hill and 2006 IPT North American Open) and pocketed $765,000.
Reyes became the first Filipino to win the World Pool (9-ball) Championship title in 1999 in Cardiff . He also took the World 8-ball title in 2004 in Fujairah , United Arab Emirates.