MAGHAHARAP ang best of Asia at best of Europe sa inaugural Reyes Cup Invitational 9-Ball tournament sa Pilipinas sa susunod na buwan.

Ipinangalan kay Filipino pool legend Efren “Bata” Reyes, tampok sa torneo ang pinakamagagaling sa Team Asia na pinangungunahan ni Reyes bilang team captain kasama ang kababayang si Johann Chua, Singapore’s Aloysius Yap at Taiwan’s Ko Pin Yi. 

Kabilang naman sa Europe squad sina Germany’s Joshua Filler, Albania’s Eklent Kaçi, Denmark’s Mickey Krause, at team captain Karl Boyes. 

Bawat team ay magkakaroon ng two wildcard players na kukumpleto sa kanilang rosters.

“This tournament, I have been waiting for this Reyes Cup,” ani Reyes sa ginanap na press conference. “There are a lot of good players now here in Team Europe. But for me, Team Asia could win, although I could not play now because I am now older.” 

Ngunit inamin ni “The Magician” na hindi siya maglalaro kundi magiging guide lang ng Team Asia.

“That is why we chose good players here in Asia, from Singapore, Taipei and the Philippines. But, as the team captain, I will help them. And maybe I could play, I will face this player on my left [Boyes.] He already defeated me,” sabi ni Reyes.

Kumpiyansa naman si Aristeo “Putch” Puyat, founder ng Puyat Sports, magiging inspirasyon ang Reyes Cup upang magsikap ang younger generation of pool players na maging mas competitive.

“I’m confident that the Reyes Cup will inspire many of our young players to strive and be better and be competitive,” pahayag niya.

“There are so many competitions hosted by Matchroom almost every month and they cannot say anymore that they don’t have the exposure. They can join the events, and it’s easier for them to be good, if they’re really good, if they concentrate and they practice.”

Paliwanag pa ni Puyat, “They can no longer say that they have no exposure. There are a lot of tournaments.”

Naniniwala naman si Emily Frazer, CEO ng Matchroom Multi Sport, magiging successful ang nasabing torneo.

“We now reached sell-out arenas of 2,500, to now 3,000 this year. Imagine where we will be in four weeks’ time at the Reyes Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium,” ayon kay Frazer.

“Stepped into the arena yesterday, and I could see the seating and just thinking this fill-up is going to be incredible. That’s the aim, that’s the goal,” dagdag niya. (Photo courtesy of https://www.batabar.com/)