Efren 'Bata' Reyes on next SEA Games foe: Pipilitin kong talunin, pero magaling 'yun

Despite entering the semi-finals in Carom for the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Filipino pool legend Efren "Bata" Reyes on Wednesday lamented that he had already lost his magic touch.

"Hindi ko na maitaas. Wala na yung magic ko ngayon. Hindi na ko pwede mag-mase, hindi na ako pwede mag-kaliwa, masakit na. Kaya yung mga dating tinitira ko na may magic, wala na. Hindi na gagana," Reyes said in a report by JP Soriano on State of the Nation address with Jessica Soho.

The 65-year-old player's game against Thailands' Punyawee Thongchai on Wednesday took more than an hour with Reyes dominating Thongchai, 100-37. 

"Ibig sabihin dapat yung laban na 'yun sandali lang 'yun. Yung 100. Mga ilang tirahan lang. Ngayon, ang dami naming tira bago namin matapos yung 100," Reyes said.

Though he said he was not very nervous for the opener, Reyes admitted that his Vietnam opponent for Friday's match was better than him.

"Pipilitin kong talunin, pero magaling yun. Baka mamaya sumama din yung tira 'nun, baka gumanda yung tira ko, bumalik yung tira ko, talunin ko siya," Reyes said.

Reyes also called on public support not only for himself but for every athlete competing in the SEA games. He said he will undergo therapy once the competition was over.

The Magician is vying for the gold medal in the carom men's singles for the SEA games. —Joahna Lei Casilao/JST, GMA News