Bata off to hot start in US Open 10-ball
FILIPINO billiards master Efren “Bata” Reyes got off to a blazing start in the 2011 US Open 10-Ball championship after beating American Dennis Hatch in the second round at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Reyes, the top player of sportsman/businessman Aristeo “Putch” Puyat, took a bye in the opening round while Hatch stunned heavyweight Thorsten Hohmann of Germany.
Hohmann is the reigning Philippine Open Pool champion.
Known as “The Magician” in the billiards circuit, Reyes, who topped the 2011 US Open One Pocket crown last Monday worth $8,000, will meet another local bet Sal Butera.
Butera beat Jonathan Smith and John Schmidt in the first two rounds.
Meanwhile, Reyes’ fellow Puyat Sports bet Alex “The Lion” Pagulayan also advanced to the third round after scoring back-to-back victories.
Pagulayan, a former WPA World 9-ball champion, dismantled countryman Jose “Amang” Parica and Manuel Herrera of Mexico.
Pagulayan’s next assignment will be against UK’s Raj Hundal, who downed Frankie Hernandez of Mexico and Tommy Tokoph of Finland in the first two rounds.
Also advancing were double world champion Ralf Souquet of Germany, David Alcaide of Spain, Shane Van Boening, Corey Deuel and Charlie Williams of the USA, Ernesto Dominguez of Mexico and Kenichi Uchigaki of Japan among others.
