Originally posted by Sputnik
[br]It was another match worthy of worldwide TV. In over three hours last night, Ronnie Alcano again sneaked past Efren Reyes in a fantastic 11-10 money match at Bugsy in Examiner Street, Quezon City. The two exchanged awesome shots as Efren was trying hard to establish his dominance, while Alcano awaited acceptance by his idol as a formidable foe. Out of preserving Efren’s stature, Alcano had one notch in the score even before Efren broke the first rack. All through the Rotation Race to 11 match, both executed tremendous ball control in both offensive and defensive shots.
At the start, it looked as if Efren was going to rip the game wide open. His scintillating magic left Ronnie star-struck trailing 6 games to 2. Then, as his older brother took his turn in refereeing (each had a choice of his own referee for half the match), Ronnie’s confidence kicked in. Finally, the little boy from Calamba returned fire with unbelievable kick shots; masse shots; four-cushion, precise to the centimeter preparations; exaggerated english that drew the white back to the rail and kicked three more rails lengthwise, bank shots with the ball slowly dropping into the pocket like tree sap refusing to drip; and what had Efren. There was a point in his confidence when Ronnie contemplated in shooting left-handed, behind the back, or behind the back using a bridge with the bridge handle resting on his left shoulder! At 6 even, both players stood at opposite sides of the table with exactly the same posture – left hand crawling up to the ferule chalking the tip in little circular motions with the right hand rested by the waist while figuring out how to perform their wizardry.
Then the game got even better. Awesome! Both started exchanging a string of eight defensive shots, both countering with three to four rail cue ball tours without breakfast for the other. 7-6 Calamba. 7 even. 8-7 Efren. 8 even. 9-8 Ronnie. 9 even. 10-9 Ronnie. When Ronnie was shooting, Efren intensely observed his aim and was trying to figure out and measure the skill of Ronnie. When Efren shot, Ronnie still looked at him with respect.
At this point, Ronnie was getting the better of Efren in defense. Efren missed a spot, visibly irked with not having the chance to string up balls like he ought to. Then, in what appeared as the final game of the match, Ronnie displayed his Achilles’ Heel. In wanting to impress everyone including himself, he banked the 4 ball lengthwise with the 4 ball a foot away at an 80-degree angle from the corner pocket. A cut, lengthwise bank miss!!! He even missed breaking the 5, which was proposing another defensive shot from him.
Efren’s dignity was pumped with adrenalin. He performed magic all the way through the end of the game. 10 even!!! Barkers started calling "Efren...Efren", seeking Alcano bettors.
Final game. Efren broke and got on with the 2-ball pot that left the cue ball five inches away from the 3. He made an unbelievable bank shot that sent the cue ball crazy to the 4. 5 was Bata’s biggest mistake of the match. He miscalculated a draw and left the cue ball in the middle of the table. The six was a quarter table lengthwise down, also in the middle width-wise. He had to perform a 2-rail angle prepare for the 7 down the other end of the table. The problem was the tangent of the white went straight to the 14, which was a few inches away from the corner opposite where the 6 was aimed at. A miscalculation in the strength of the stroke presented a scratch. To many spectators, it was a terrible miss. But it was a hard shot, because he wanted to string up the 7 after the 6.
Efren stood by the table speechless long after Ronnie did him in. He was just looking at the kibitzers imitate a fantastic cut Ronnie did on the 7 ball. Ronnie knew exactly how to behave. He just leaned on the wall silently behind Efren in almost condoling with his Master’s defeat. After all, Efren is still Efren. But soon, he has to welcome Ronnie as his peer. Or maybe his successor.
