Efren "Bata" Reyes aka The Magician is Number One in the AzBilliards Player Rankings

Efren Reyes, aka Bata and The Magician, is still the world's most sought after cue master as he moves up from second to the top spot of www.azbilliards.com's rankings, which is based on website user's interest in a player on a week to week basis.

From GMANewsTV:

• "Despite several month of absence in the billiards scene, Efren "Bata" Reyes of the Philippines continues to enjoy being the world's most sought after player.
• Reyes has toppled his kumpadre, Francisco "Django" Bustamante at the top spot of the AzBilliards Player Rankings which according to the website is "a testament to his (Reyes) popularity considering that he has not competed in a major event for months."
• Filipino cue master Dennis Orcollo who was ranked 6th last week, fell to no. 8 while Fil-Canadian Alex Pagulayan dropped from the 9th position to 17th.
• Allison Fisher, who was eliminated by Rubilen Amit, aka Bingkay, in the 2007 Amway Women's World-9 Ball Championship is the top female player in the rankings.
  
• Meanwhile, Orcollo is currently ranked third in the 2007 money list of the www.azbilliards.com.
• Orcollo pocketed the titles in the 9-ball event of the enjoypool.com and the Bill Staton Memorial event. He placed second in the world 8-ball championship behind compatriot Ronato Alcano.
• And despite his absence in billiard scene for several months, "Bata" Reyes is at fourth with $39,350 in earnings. Alcano is at fifth with total prize money of $35,900.
• At ninth spot is "Django" Bustamante - who has so far won $34,900."
  
  

Efren "Bata" Reyes

• The Magician
• [part of] The Filipino Invasion
• Cesar Morales
  
• The Best Player to Ever Hold a Cue Stick
• The Greatest Player of the Game
  
  

The first Filipino cue artist I ever saw on television was Efren Reyes playing against Amang Parica. And from that moment on, I was fascinated with the game. I've seen Bata play countless times, both live and on TV. Truly, one can feel his aura of simplicity and greatness!

One of the most memorable events in my life was one Tuesday afternoon at the SuperBowl in Makati Cinema Square in 2005. It was around 4:00 pm when I decided to drop by MSBA and look around to see if some of the members are already there. As i was approaching Table 16, Jimmy Pantranco shouted, "O, ayan na pala si Champ!" (Hey! The Champ is already here!) And from the silhouette of the player playing on Table 16 emerged a figure I have learned to recognized without second thoughts - twas Bata! The Magician himself - fresh from his Vietnam tour! To my surprise, Bata approached me and shook my hand! We briefly chatted and he politely refused any offer of drinks or food because he and his party just came off from a very late lunch.

And everyone, as in everyone, watched in awe as the Magician practiced on Table 16! He played on and off for about 120 minutes before leaving for a scheduled match in Manila. And oh! He nodded and waved a goodbye to me before he left! Talk about humility! And I kid you not!

*much thanks to my friend over at The Legal Two-Timer
for tipping me on the GMANews.TV post