Reyes, Amit ready to defend crown

EFREN  “Bata” Reyes and Rubilen Amit of the Philippines will defend their title in the second World Mixed Doubles Billiards Championships on Nov. 30 in Hangzhou, China.

Reyes and Amit led Team Philippines in the inaugural championship in 2009, defeating the Korean tandem of Charlie Williams and Eun Ji Park to take the $6,000 winner’s purse.

Reyes and Amit, both playing under the banner of Puyat Sports, are fresh from their stints in the recent 26th Southeast Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia.

Both will be joined by another Filipino pair in Lee Vann Corteza and Sea Games double Gold Medalist Iris Ranola.

Other teams competing in the event are composed of world champions, including recently crowned World 10-ball champion Kelly Fisher, who will be pairing up with Tommy Donlon to make up one of two British teams.

Other notable teams include: Team USA (Johnny Archer and The Black Widow Jeanette Lee), Team Finland (Mika Immonen and Marika Poikkijoki), Team Chinese Taipei (Chao Fong Pang and Tsai Pei Chen), and hometown bets from China Li He Wen and Fu Xiao Fang.

Reyes and Amit recognize the difficulty of playing in the scotch-doubles format and have been preparing for the event for months.

Unlike many of the other teams, both have the advantage of having been able to practice together  while preparing for the Sea Games.

“I’m excited to again be paired up with my idol Efren Reyes,” said Amit.  “I’m looking forward to playing some of the best players in the World.”

The event pays out a top prize of US $15,000 and has a total purse of US $40,000. /CORRESPONDENT Marlon Bernardino