Pinoy pool legend 'Bata' Reyes vies for carom gold in SEA Games

Filipino pool legend Efren "Bata" Reyes will once again compete in the 3 cushion carom men's singles for the 30th Southeast Asian Games, hoping to finally bring home the gold medal.

According to Maki Pulido's Thursday report on "24 Oras," despite his old age and right shoulder injury, the 65-year-old Reyes will play in the carom event since there's no other athlete left to play.

"Wala tayong player na carom ngayon dito kasi dati kami marami kaming carom player pero 'yong mga may edad na, nawala na, nag-pass away na," Reyes said.

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Carom, also called as French billiards, is played with three balls (two white and one red) on a table without pockets. The goal here is to drive one of the white balls (cue ball) into both of the other balls.

To win, one would need to hit the 100-point mark. Each carom completed counts as one point.

"Sa carom, habang natatamaan mo 'yong mga bola, ikaw pa rin ang titira," Reyes said.

Although he was able to cop a bronze medal in this category the last time the sport event was held in Palembang, Malaysia in 2011, Reyes said he is yet to win gold.

Meanwhile, he also denied that he will retire from the sport. 

Reyes is a four-time World 8-ball champion, three-time US Open champion and one-time World 9-ball Tournament champion.

Reyes, who already has 70 international titles, has also won 14 times in the Derby City Classic.

He also serves as the coach of the Philippine team in billiards. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/MDM, GMA News