Efren “Bata” Reyes competes against Thongchai Punyawee of Thailand in SEA Games Carom held at the Manila Hotel on December 4, 2019. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News
MANILA—In front of a jam-packed home crowd, Efren “Bata” Reyes demolished his Thai opponent 100-36 in the Southeast Asian Games one carom cushion quarterfinals at Manila Hotel Tent City on Wednesday.
Nearly all of the venue's 2,000 seats were filled, mostly spectators who wanted to see what “The Magician” had up his sleeve.
In carom, players try to strike the cue ball toward two balls successively. Each "carom" is equivalent to one point and the first to 100 points wins.
Reyes dominated Punyawee Thongchai in a lopsided win, even at one point striking 20 caroms in a row.
However, Reyes believed there's a lot to be done in the succeeding matches.
“ ‘Yung laban dapat sandali lang. Ngayon ang dami nang tira bago namin matapos 'yung [laban],” he said.
THE MAGIC GONE?
Reyes also told reporters he was suffering from a shoulder injury.
“Hindi ko na maitaas,” Reyes said, gesturing to his shoulder.
“Kaya 'yung mga tinitira ko dati na magic, wala na rin. Di na gumagana. Kailangan ang gamot dito therapy pero siyempre. Siguro pagkatapos nito.”
While happy about the crowd turnout, he said it could’ve been better had his shoulder been working the same way it was in his prime.
“‘Yun nga sana manonood maganda sana ang ine-expect na tira wala silang nakitang maganda,” Reyes said.
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