Efren Reyes captures Manny Pacquiao 10 Ball tilt in Gen San
Reyes lags against Pulpul. Image courtesy MP Cup Gensan.
The Philippines’ most beloved and accomplished pocket billiards master has done it again.
On Friday Efren Reyes, who turned 60 last August, defeated Demosthenes “Plong-plong” Pulpul 11-10 in the final to win the MP Cup Paskuhan sa Gensan International Open 10 Ball tournament singles division in SM City General Santos.
The victory earns him US$13,000. This win for the evergreen Reyes and his Derby City One Pocket crown in January serve as a bookends to his 2014.
The tournament attracted several top international pros like Mika Immonen of Finland, Shane Van Boening of the USA, and compatriot Rodney Morris. Other Pinoy masters like Lee Vann Corteza and Ronnie Alcano also participated.
On Thursday Reyes eliminated his god-brother Francisco Bustamante 9-6 to set up a round of 16 clash with John Morra of Canada. Reyes then won that encounter 9-7 to reach the quarters against Oliver Medenilla.
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Reyes rode his luck and skill to edge Medenill 9-8 to set a semis match with Benjie Guevarra which he took 9-6. Thus a finals match with Pulpul in the championship game.
Pulpul vanquished Biado 9-8 in the semis. There was controversy in the final rack of that game when Biado failed to call the last 10 ball, an easy shot into the side, and the referee spotted the ten on the foot spot and gave ball in hand to Pulpul into the corner pocket.
10 Ball is technically a call shot game although oftentimes easy, obvious shots are no longer called. Read more about the incident on the Cue Sport Nation News Blog.
In the final Pulpul, from Cagayan De Oro, took an early 2-0 lead before Reyes got into stroke to go ahead 6-3. Pulpul took rack ten to pull to within one, 6-5.
A cagey rack fourteen went Efren’s way as he took a crucial 8-6 lead. Reyes should have won rack 15 but he muffed the nine ball. The players then traded racks for a 9-8 score. Reyes should have taken the hill first but he ran out of position on the 8 and missed it in the side pocket.
Then Pulpul shockingly snookered himself behind the 10 playing shape on the 9. He surrendered the table to Reyes who looked comfortably ahead in the hill at 10-8.
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But Pulpul clawed back to take rack nineteen then looked to break and run out rack twenty to force a final rack decider until he snookered himself on the 8 ball. Fortunately he was able to jump the ball in and indeed run out for 10-10
In rack 21 Pulpul made a ball on the break and faced a makeable run out. But he under-drew on position from five to six, leaving himself a big cut that he left on the mouth of the pocket. Reyes cleaned up the rack to thunderous applause from the mall crowd.
You can watch the match in its entirety here on this youtube link.
The doubles division of the tournament starts today, Saturday. Reyes will try to sweep the trophies with Bustamante beside him. Pinoys Jeffrey De Luna and Jeffrey Ignacio, who won the doubles event in the first MP cup earlier in the year, will be a hot favorite. But the Philippine-American alliance of Dennis Orcollo and Van Boening will also be tough to beat.
See the full start list of that competition here.
Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.
