Bata-Amit duo retains title

The Philippine tandem of Efren “Bata” Reyes and Rubilen Amit successfully defended their World Mixed Doubles crown on Friday by defeating the US pair of Johnny Archer and Jeanette Lee, 10-6 in Hangzhou, China.

The Filipinos bagged the $15,000 champions’ purse.

Prior to their emphatic finals victory, Reyes and Amit had to go through the proverbial eye of the needle against China’s Li He Wen and Chen Si Ming whom they defeated, 9-8.

A total of 16 teams from around the world participated in the event composed of top international men and women players like current World 10-Ball champion Kelly Fisher, Allisson Fisher, Mika Immonen, Thorsten Hohmann, Charlie Williams, Fu Xiao Fang, Lui Hai Tao, Shanelle Loraine among others.

By winning the event, the Puyat Sports stalwarts retained the title they won two years ago during the inaugural staging of the event where they defeated the Korean tandem of Charlie Williams and Eun Ji Park. Thet victory was worth $6,000.

The victory also installed the double world champion Reyes as the oldest player at age 56 to win an open international event participated by top players.

During the post game interview, Reyes was quoted as saying, “We hope our win will bring some cheers to our countrymen this Christmas season. We offer our win today to our country.”

With the victory, Reyes and Amit’s performance bolstered the Philippines reputation as the hotbed of billiards, said sportsman Aristeo “Putch” Puyat, the acknowledged Godfather of Philippine billiards.

“Once again our flag has been raised in this foreign land after our kababayans Efren (Reyes) and Rubilen (Amit) successfully won the World Mixed Doubles in Hangzhou, China,” he said.

The other Philippine team of Lee Van Corteza and SEA Games double gold medalist Iris Rañola did not do so well after being defeated by China in the preliminaries.