Reyes-Alcano match
highlights Villar Cup

POOL icon Efren "Bata" Reyes and two-time world champion Ronnie Alcano will battle in a rotation match that will highlight the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Billiards tournament starting tomorrow at the Sports Center of StarMall Alabang in Muntinlupa City.

The match will be a race-to-four affair and will be held in between the championship game of the Search for the New Billiards Idol Sipag at Tiyaga Edition and the Top Guns Challenge on May 10.

"Efren and Ronnie are the top two best rotation players in the world," said Bugsy Promotions head Perry Mariano, who conceptualized the match. "New let’s see who is on top of whom, who is No. 1."

Reyes and Alcano are also seeing action in the Top Guns Challenge, along with other world-class cue artists vying for the P400,000 top purse.

Reyes will come from the United States, taking time off from his tight schedule, to compete in the event that will serve as the highlight of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines month-long celebration of "Philippine Billiards Holidays."

Alcano is coming off a runner-up finish in the 2008 World 8-Ball Championship in United Arab Emirates.

"I will try my best to win the Villar Cup. It’s been quite a long time since I won a title," said Alcano.

The other players competing in the Top Guns Challenge are current word No.1 Dennis Orcollo, 2007 World Pool Championship runner-up Roberto Gomez, former Asian Games gold medalist Gandy Valle, reigning national titlist Lee Van Corteza and veteran campaigners Warren Kiamco, Rodolfo Luat, Ramil Gallego, Eduardo Villanueva and Roel Esquillo.

Rounding up the field are Joven Bustamante, Carlo Biado, Jharome Pena, Russian Petiza, Benjie Guevarra, Ricky Zerna, Jundel Mason, Elmer Haya, Panfilo Damuag, Godofredo Ducanes, Cebu’s William Chua, 2007 national juniors champion Mark Mendoza, and top lady cue artists Rubilen Amit and Mary Ann Basas.