Sizzling Bata scores back-to-back wins

WHEN he’s in tip-top shape, Filipino billiards master Efren “Bata” Reyes is simply unbeatable.

This the former world 9-ball and 8-ball champion proved yesterday, when he claimed back-to-back wins to remain in the winners bracket of the 2011 US Open 10-Ball Championship at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Reyes, a billiards Hall of Famer and the top player of sportsman Aristeo “Putch” Puyat, defeated Sal Butera of the USA in the third round then subdued Raj Hundal of the United Kingdom in the fourth to keep his record clean.

The Angeles City-resident Reyes, who won $8,000 last Monday for winning the 2011 US Open One Pocket championship, will meet American Jonathan Pinegar in the next round.

Meanwhile, another Puyat Sports ace Alex “The Lion” Pagulayan was still battling out Matt Krah of the USA in their do-or-die match in the losers brackets.
Pagulayan dropped to the one-loss side after losing to Hundal in the third round.

Filipinos Jose “Amang” Parica and Jun Almoite officially bowed out of the tournament after suffering their second straight loss in the losers bracket.
Parica yielded to James Baraks while Almoite bowed to Jesse Engel.