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FILIPINO pool maestro Efren ?Bata? Reyes emerged this year?s Master of the Table champion as the aging legend continue to pile up titles and bring in the big bucks.
It was the fifth Master of the Table crown for Reyes, a title given to the player who has the best record in all four events in the 12th Annual Derby City Classic at the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel in Indiana, United States.
Acknowledged as one of the greatest billiard players of all time, Reyes was also the event?s overall winner in 1999, 2004, 2005 and 2007.
Another Pinoy legend Jose ?Amang? Parica, who was recently inducted into the One Pocket Hall of Fame, won the Master of the Table title in 2002 while former world No.1 Francisco ?Django? Bustamante ruled the 2008 edition.
Reyes made it to the finals of the 9-Ball Banks this year, and formalized his overall victory by topping the 9-Ball competition worth $20,000 and the Fat Boy 10-Ball Challenge.
Dubbed as ?The Magician? Reyes beat American Rodney ?Rocket? Morris in the 9-Ball final, 7-4 to earn an additional $16,000. He also pocketed $5,000 for his runner-up finish in the 9-Ball Banks and banked another $6,500 for topping the Fat Boy 10-Ball Challenge bringing his 10-day total to $47,500.
Businessman/ sportsman Aristeo ?Putch? Puyat, president of Puyat Sports, acknowledged the Godfather of Philippine billiards, expressed pride over the recent victory of Reyes.
?Ang tagumpay ni Bata (Efren ?Bata? Reyes) sa Indiana ay magandang simula para sa bilyar sa pagbubukas ng taong 2010,? Puyat said.
Other Filipino cue artists who participated in the annual affair are Bustamante who finished third over-all in the One Pocket division; ex-world 9-ball champion Alex ?The Lion? Pagulayan, veteran internationalist Rodolfo ?Boy Samson? Luat and Parica who ruled the Seniors 9-ball event.
