NO less than cue maestro 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 QC
Invasion: Quezon City-Philippines vs. the World Grand Billiards Showdown slated
Dec. 2-4 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 QC Council Majority
Floor Leader Ariel Inton and backed by the 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 $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.
Quezon City plans to make "QC Invasion" a yearly affair as part of its living
up to its claim as the sports-tourism capital of the Philippines.
