TAIWANESE PIN YI KO downed Filipino pool maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes, 9-4, to win the Philippine Bigtime Billiards (PBB) Face-Off Series dubbed as Philippines versus Asia late Saturday at the Pagcor Airport Casino in Parañaque City.
After a 2-all deadock in the 4th frame, the former World 9-ball and 8-ball Champion Reyes never had a chance to return to the table after Ko raced to a 6-2 lead in the PBB Face Off Series, a joint undertaking of Mega Sports World and BRKHRD Corp., and organized in cooperation with Sorsogon Province Sports Patron Philip Escudero of Malungai Life Oil, brother of Senator Chiz Escudero, Hermes Sports Bar, I-Bar, Golden Leaf Restaurant, Bugsy Promotions, Mandarin Sky Sea Food Restaurant, Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) with The Philippine Star as official media partner.
Ko, who joined with Manila-based Bugsy Promotions of billiards patron Ceferino "Perry" Mariano last December along with fellow Taiwanese Kun Lin Chang who is fresh from winning the World 8-Ball crown last Friday in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, goes up against World 9-ball kingpin Francisco "Django" Bustamante on February 25 in this Mega Sports World and BRKHRD Corp. jointly event and was aired live over Solar Sports, Sky Channel 70 and Destiny Channel 34, and also aired worldwide through the Internet, live streaming at www.megasportsworld.com and www.philippinebigtimebilliards.com.
"Luck played a part in my victory." said two-time World Junior Champion Ko through an interpreter. " Efren (Reyes) is a very tough opponent." he added.
"Pin Yi-ko is one of the best players in the World today." said Reyes, the first Asian to be inducted to the Billiards Hall of Fame.
Aside from Ko and Chang, the 1-2 punch of Taiwan, other members of Bugsy Promotions under the rigid training of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PSCO) Billiards Academy headed by World No.1 and World 8-ball champion Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo, 2011 World Ten-Ball semi-finalist Carlo "The Black Tiger" Biado, 2007 World Pool Finalists Roberto "Superman" Gomez, 2006 World Junior Quarter-finalist Renemar "Revo" David, Johann "Bubwit" Chua, John Vincent Vicedo, youthful Hadley Mariano of College of St. Benilde, Biondi Te of Ateneo de Manila University, Rodlin John Bautista and Cedric Gonzales of University of Sto. Tomas and Geona Gregorio of Letran College, all products of the National Collegiate Billiard League (NCBL) or B-League.
"Bugsy Promotions now is the strongest billiard management group in the world." said Canadian 9-ball champion Ramon "Maestro Monching" Mistica, a close friend of Orcollo.Marlon Bernardino
