Sports
Reyes picked team captain of RP team in QC-RP vs. the World pool showdown
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Oct 3, 2008 - 3:04:41 PM

MANILA, Oct. 4 (PNA) -- Efren “Bata” Reyes will be at the forefront of the country’s defense of its reputation as the best pool-playing nation in the planet against a pack of invading international stars in the Q.C. Invasion: Quezon City-Philippines vs the World Grand Billiards Showdown slated on December 2 to 4 at the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City.

The 54-year-old Reyes, still undoubtedly the sport’s top draw, was unanimously chosen by his teammates to be the captain of the home squad in this much-anticipated battle royale organized by Quezon City Council Majority Floor Leader Ariel Inton and backed by the Quezon City government led by Mayor Sonny Belmonte.

“It’s an honor to be selected as the team captain. I will do my best to lead our team to victory,” said the charismatic sports hero.

Reyes will join forces with fellow former world champions Alex Pagulayan and Ronnie Alcano, current world no.1 Dennis Orcollo, former world no.1 Francisco “Django” Bustamante, 2007 World Pool runner-up Roberto Gomez, former national champion Lee Van Corteza and four-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Warren Kiamco in this team-based competition for the US$ 40,000 winner purse.

“Champ (Reyes) is our hands down choice because he is the Michael Jordan of billiards. We are many Kobe Bryants or LeBron Jameses, but there is only one Michael Jordan, and that is him,” said Pagulayan.

“We believe that his leadership can wheel us to victory,” he added.

The all-star Filipino crew will go up against a selection led by former world titleholders Mike Immonen of Finland and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany in this three-day event also supported by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) and the Quezon City Tourism Council with Solar Sports, RPN-9 and the Philippine Star as media partners.

The two teams will slug it out in singles, doubles and team events similar to that of the Mosconi Cup.