MANILA, Philippines -- HALL OF FAMER Efren ?Bata? Reyes is ready to weave his old black magic in the 2012 Philippine Bigtime Billiards (PBB) Face Off Series dubbed as Philippines versus Asia on Saturday, February 18 at the Pagcor Airport Casino in Para?aque City.
The 57-year-old, playing under the banner of Puyat Sports goes up against two-time WPA World Junior Champion Taiwanese Ko Pin-Yi in this event jointly organized by the Mega Sports World and BRKHRD Corp and aired live over Solar Sports, Sky Channel 70 and Destiny Channel 34, and also aired worldwide through the Internet, live streaming at www.megasportsworld.com and www.philippinebigtimebilliards.com.
The PBB Face Off is a joint undertaking of Mega Sports World and BRKHRD Corp., and organized in cooperation with Sorsogon Province Sports Patron Philip Escudero of Malungai Life Oil, brother of Senator Chiz Escudero, Diamond Billiard table, Hermes Sports Bar, I-Bar, Golden Leaf Restaurant, Bugsy Promotions, Mandarin Sky Sea Food Restaurant, Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP), Hotel Sogo, Eurotel Hotel with The Philippine Star as official media partner.
Known as the first Asian to be inducted to the Billiards Hall of Fame, Reyes defeated fellow two-time world champion Wu Jia Qiang (formerly Wu Chia-ching from Chinese-Taipei), 9-6, in the Philippine Bigtime Billiards (PBB) Face Off Series last December 30.
?I trained hard for this fight so I can give a good show for pool fans,? said 1999 WPA World 9-ball Champion and 2004 WPA World 8-Ball Champion Reyes, top player of sportsman/businessman Aristeo "Putch" Puyat, the acknowledged Godfather of Philippine billiards.
Future matches of the PBB Face Off Series will pit Ko versus Francisco "Django" Bustamante on Feb.25.
According to Verna Mariano of BRKHRD Corp and Bugsy Promotions, the Philippine Bigtime Billiards introduces a fresh new format for 2012.
"The events will maintain the one-on one match format every week but each season will be composed of 17 weeks. A year is effectively divided into three seasons. In each season, players will be determined by their team affiliation. In a format similar to the Davis Cup in Tennis, the Ryder Cup in Golf or the Mosconi Cup in Pool, two national or continental teams will compete per season." she said.
"National or continental teams will be composed of but not restricted to 7-10 players which must carry the nation or continent?s flag in international competitions. Players for each team need not be determined or restricted to particular individuals to avoid the possibility of having no players available during times when there are International Professional events taking place. Each win in the one-on-one events every Saturday gives a team a point. At the end of 17 weeks, the team with the most points wins."
The Philippine Team is composed of Reyes, Bustamante, Dennis Orcollo, Ronato Alcano, Carlo Biado, Lee Vann Corteza, Alex Pagulayan and Antonio Lining.
The Asian Team comprised of Ko, Chang Jung-lin, Yang Ching-shun,Chao Fong Pang and Chang Yu Long.
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