EFREN “Bata” REYES: The Magician, Billiards GOAT 

By Romuel Alarcon

Before Efren “Bata” Reyes entered the celestial of Billiards, it is ruled by the West. No Asian ever had a chance to show their wares in the pool table. Asians have a very slim chance or no chance at all to win a Billiards Tournament in the west. But Efren Reyes showed the Western Billiards Cue Artist what billiards is all about. Putting the cue ball in a position that has no chance to be pocketed, is not anymore problem some. He introduced the art of pocketing the numbered balls even in a very precarious position. This makes billiards a very exciting game. If Jai alai is a game of a thousand thrills, Billiards is a game of a thousand pocketing style. 

Efren “Bata” Reyes was born in Angles City on August 26, 1954.The 5^th child of a family of 9. At an early age of 5, he went to Manila accompanied by his uncle. This is where the wind of change blow in his fate. At 9 years old, he was able to win his first betting competition. He uses stool to fire his cue stick because he is just a little boy. Because he just stays in the pool place, he sleeps over the pool table. Normally, as a Filipino, we always say, “you are pretty good in such a game because you sleep on it”. When he reaches the age of 15, he drops school and pursue his pool career. He becomes unbeatable in pool table. Even the older well experienced pool player who is well verse, becomes a beating dog for Bata Reyes. 

The Magician’s first love is the Three Cushion or what we call in Filipino parlance “Karambola”. This is where Bata honed his great magical talent of putting a very hard and covered cue ball into a winning shot. When Efren Reyes good western cue artist saw the way Bata, holed the numbered ball, no placing move is safe for the Magician.  

When Bata Reyes first came to the United States, he did not use his real name but Cesar Morales. When he uses Cesar Morales in 1985 at the Reds Open 9 Ball tournament, one by one he beat the named cue artist in that time. Efren Bata Reyes won his first biggest pot of 81,000 dollars.  But when he started to join tournaments, he used his real name Efren Reyes.  

Some of the biggest pool tournament Efren Bata Reyes won are, 14-time Derby City Classic Winner, The Matchroom Sports 1999 World Professional Pool Championship, 3-time United States Open Winner, two-time World Pool League winner and 4-time World 8 Ball Champion. In 1997, Efren Bata Reyes won 100,000 Dollars in the Battle with the Great American Pool Player Earl Strickland in the Color of Money. Overall Bata Reyes won over 100 International Title.  In Bata Reyes win, he was acknowledged as the Greatest Pool Player of All Time. 

He loves to play the Balkune carom billiard game where two cue balls and a red object ball is played using points. It is played in 5 feet by 10 feet pocketless table. 

The problem of Philippine Billiards right now, is that there is no Billiard Acadamy that will teach the youngsters billiard enthusiast the right way to hone their skills.  This approach should be a great grassroot program for the young and upcoming billiard artist. Specially, making Efren Bata Reyes as the guiding star of the next generation of cue artist. Let us name the academy: EFREN BATA REYES BILLIARD ACADEMY.