EFREN “Bata” Reyes continues to be a positive influence not just for Filipino players, but for cue masters all over the globe.
Reyes Cup MVP Aloysius Yapp shared that he’s just overjoyed to have a chance to pick the brain of the Philippines' pride who is considered to be the greatest pool player of all-time.
“I learned so much [from him] and it’s hard to just describe it. Efren is the greatest of all-time, he’s really the best,” the Singaporean bet said after Team Asia’s 11-6 victory in the inaugural staging of the team tourney.
READ: Team Asia keeps inaugural Reyes Cup trophy home in Manila
World No. 12 Ko Pin Yi also quipped: “I enjoyed this [experience] and I’m very happy for the Asia team.”
Reyes served as the captain for Team Asia in the four-day event which pitted the continent's best against top pool masters from Europe, all for the trophy named in the honor of “The Magician.”
A convincing victory for all of Asia
And having this luxury is what made the Team Asia triumph sweeter, as not only the Filipinos got to bask in the limelight, but their teammates from neighboring countries as well.
“To be honest, mas naging happy ako na nakuha ni Yapp [yung MVP],” said Johann Chua, who acted the de-facto vice captain for the team.
“Talagang nilagay ko si [Duong Quoc] Hoang at Yapp sa mga unang matches in case 'di namin makuha ni Carlo [Biado], kasi deserve nila parehas na sila ang maka-clinch dahil sa ganda ng nilaro nila throughout the event. Kahit na alam kong gusto ng fans na isa sa amin ni Carlo ang makakuha ng final match dahil nandito tayo sa bansa natin, para sa players, feeling ko, deserve talaga ni Yapp.”
Yapp finished off the series with a clinical 5-1 rout of Francisco Sanchez Ruiz in their singles duel.
But more than anything, Team Asia getting this win on behalf of Reyes feels just right, with Chua saying: “It’s a priceless moment for all of us to be part of this with champ Efren still here.”
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