BATA, AMANG SHINE IN U.S. 9-BALL OPEN

Manila, Sept. 26, 1997 - Local billiard aficionados are jubilant over the performance of veteran Filipino pool pros Efren "Bata" Reyes and Jose "Amang" Parica, who placed second and third in the US Open 9-ball tournament in Chesapeake, Virginia. The championship games were held Sunday.

The two, both protégés of sportsmen Jose and Aristeo Puyat, bested a star-studded field of 184 entries, finally facing each other in the semi-finals. Reyes defeated Parica to advance to the championship match against 5-time world champion Rod Strickland.

Strickland ruled the match 11-3, winning the $25,000 grand prize. Reyes received $15,000 and Parica $7,500.

It was the third year in a row that Reyes finished second in the annual event, which he ruled in 1994, becoming the first non-American to win the prestigious title.