We Are The Champions One of the four big Bs of Filipino Sports

Billiards, one of the four big Bs of Filipino sports, was a constant supply of pride for Filipino games aficionados. So well-known has this sport become that it has surrounded out basketball game just as the number one sports among the Filipino teens, if one is to consider the number of pool halls in the nation at this time.

This trend can be attributed to the exploits of Filipino cue performers who have invaded various international events before two decades. The mere mention of the names Bata, Django, Amang, Lining and others could quickly elicit admiration from Filipino billiard enthusiasts.

It's a confirmed reality, and not a hyperbole if you state that Filipino cue artists are probably the world's foremost which have played the game.

Efren "Bata" Reyes
While Paeng is recognized as the optimum Filipino player, Efren "Bata" Reyes is really probably the most respected Filipino champion. A 1999 study carried out by local poll firm Social Weather Stations (SWS) demonstrated that "the Magician" is the sports personality many admired by Filipinos.

Bata's magic will be attributed to his humility and his steep pleasure in connecting with the typical tao. His style can also be linked to the reality that he was a global champion for frequently and is considered the optimum pool player of all time.

In 1995, Bata was ranked as the world's number one billiard player. Least known among his achievement is the fact which Bata is a four-time World 8-Ball winner. It's known that no one could challenge Bata's idea in the 8-ball. In 1999, he clinched the World 9-Ball Championship in Wales, proving that he is an all-around pool player.

Because of his exploits in Wales, his 2 gold medals in the twentieth South east Asian Games in Brunei, and five other major worldwide titles all-in-one year, Bata acquired the Athlete in the year of 1999. On the following time, he was named Athlete of the Year for his exploits in 2001.

In the December 21, 2001 topic, the prestigious Time Magazine has included Reyes in its roster world's the best in sports and detailed him as the Philippines' "sole bona fide world-wide sports superstar".

Apart from the World 8-Ball and Word 9-Ball championships, many other world-wide events he has bagged since 1985 involve the Tokyo 9-Ball Tournament, the World League Title, World wide Challenge of Champions 9-Ball Classic, First Masters 9-Ball Championship, Pro-Tour Championship, Derby City One-Pocket, Camel Pro 8-Ball, Masters 9-Ball, among others. In 1995, the US magazine "Billiards Digest" named him as the Player of the Year.

Bata Reyes, who is still an active player, was born in Pampanga in 1953.
Asian Gold Medallists
Billiards has produced 2 Asiad gold medals for the Philippines. In the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, Romeo Villanueva and Gandy Valle taken home the nation's just only gold medal, after taking the 9-ball doubles event title. On October 7, 2002, Francisco "Django" Bustamante and Antonio "Nikoy" duplicated the accomplishment by winning the 9-ball doubles event at the 14th Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea.

Various other Billiards Champions
Apart from Bata and Django, the Philippines teems with world billiards champions. Jose "Amang" Parica, as an example, was the best billiards player in the US in 1997. Some other champions involve Edgar Acaba, Dodong Andam, Lee Van Corteza, Ramon del Rosario, Ramil Gallego, Warren Kiamco, Antonio "Nikoy" Lining, Rodolfo Luat, Dennis Orcullo, Alex Pagulayan, Santos Sambajon, and Romeo Villanueva.