Retired Filipino billiards legend Efren “Bata” Reyes is overjoyed to see a major tournament named in his honor. The inaugural “Reyes Cup” will take place in Manila this October, and promises to be a thrilling addition to the World Nineball Tour. The event will be broadcast globally by Cignal TV and Sky Sports in the UK.
“I’ve been waiting for this tournament for a long time,” Reyes shared during a press conference at the Cignal Customer Experience Center in Mandaluyong on Friday.
Scheduled from Oct. 15 to 18 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, the Reyes Cup will adopt the prestigious Mosconi Cup format. Although Reyes won’t be competing, he will lead Team Asia as captain. They will face off against Team Europe, captained by Karl Boyes, the 2010 World 8-Ball Champion.
Boyes, familiar with the fervent Filipino fans from multiple visits since 2007, expressed excitement about the event. “The fans are incredibly passionate. This will be a special moment,” he remarked.
The tournament will feature 21 matches, including both singles and doubles, with each match a race to 5. The first team to reach 11 points will secure victory in what promises to be an intense showdown between two of the world’s premier teams.
Puyat Sports founder Aristeo “Putch” Puyat, Matchroom Multi Sport CEO Emily Frazer, and Cignal TV’s Assistant Vice President Miguel S. Vea were also present at the press conference.
Team Asia will include Aloysius Yapp, Johan Chua, and Ko Pin Yi, while Team Europe will be represented by Eklent Kaçi, Mickey Krause, and Joshua Filler.
“This is going to be phenomenal. The Mosconi Cup has been running for 30 years with a 2,500-seat arena selling out. Imagine where the Reyes Cup will be in just four weeks,” said Frazer.
Puyat believes the Reyes Cup will serve as a major source of inspiration for young pool players. “I’m confident that this tournament will motivate many of our young players to strive for excellence and competitiveness,” Puyat said.
