Just How Great is Efren Bata Reyes?
- Thread starter AnitoKid
- Start date
‘Twas about a decade ago that I was glued to the TV watching the championship match between Efren Reyes and Francisco Django Bustamante. This particular championship was held at the Metropolis Mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa, Philippines. If memory serves me right, the 9-balll event was the third or fourth tournament sponsored by Motolite, a manufacturer of road transport batteries in the Philippines. The Magician won all the championships in the previous events. And he also emerged victorious in this one.
A sports commentator interviewed Efren Reyes before the awarding ceremony started. The commentator congratulated Efren and noted his incredible pool skills. I can’t exactly remember word for word what the commentator said, but it was in this respect:
“You (Efren) are the best! Barnone! Django couldn’t do anything out there! You and Django are “contra-pelo!” Every time you and Django clash, it is always you who wins! Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.”
Guess how The Magician replied!
Efren Reyes wouldn’t have none of it! Efren, in front of a live audience and on live national TV, politely highlighted some of Francisco Django Bustamante’s accomplishments in both the local and international circuits. That we should not take anything away from Francisco Bustamante because he always give his all on the pool table. That Django is every bit as good as a pool player as he (Efren). That he (Efren) was just lucky that night and the position of the balls seemed to favor him. That to say he and Django are contra-pelo is absolutely wrong and isn’t right. That Django has beat him and other champions and notable pool players locally and abroad. That Django has beat him countless times too in all types of billiards matches.
Kinda gives one a very good glimpse on The Magician’s deep sense of humility and love and respect for the game and its players. Efren Reyes could have blabbered on about his various accomplishments in the sport and the champions and notable players he has defeated over the years, or elaborated on the amazing shots he did during the match, etc. – BUT HE DID NOT! Instead, Efren highlighted the various accomplishments of his opponent, including the losses he suffered against Django! This and so much more is why I sincerely believe that Efren Reyes is indeed the greatest player ever to wield a pool cue! And I kid you not!
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A sports commentator interviewed Efren Reyes before the awarding ceremony started. The commentator congratulated Efren and noted his incredible pool skills. I can’t exactly remember word for word what the commentator said, but it was in this respect:
“You (Efren) are the best! Barnone! Django couldn’t do anything out there! You and Django are “contra-pelo!” Every time you and Django clash, it is always you who wins! Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.”
Guess how The Magician replied!
Efren Reyes wouldn’t have none of it! Efren, in front of a live audience and on live national TV, politely highlighted some of Francisco Django Bustamante’s accomplishments in both the local and international circuits. That we should not take anything away from Francisco Bustamante because he always give his all on the pool table. That Django is every bit as good as a pool player as he (Efren). That he (Efren) was just lucky that night and the position of the balls seemed to favor him. That to say he and Django are contra-pelo is absolutely wrong and isn’t right. That Django has beat him and other champions and notable pool players locally and abroad. That Django has beat him countless times too in all types of billiards matches.
Kinda gives one a very good glimpse on The Magician’s deep sense of humility and love and respect for the game and its players. Efren Reyes could have blabbered on about his various accomplishments in the sport and the champions and notable players he has defeated over the years, or elaborated on the amazing shots he did during the match, etc. – BUT HE DID NOT! Instead, Efren highlighted the various accomplishments of his opponent, including the losses he suffered against Django! This and so much more is why I sincerely believe that Efren Reyes is indeed the greatest player ever to wield a pool cue! And I kid you not!
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those who continue to say that this old guys from the old era were better that efren...how would you consider this
if efren was playing during the era of mosconi , worst or lassiter..will they be winning lots of this championship as they were if efren is around??
now if these guys were playing today...would they stand out and still manipulate championships and can take claim from the fans worldwide that they are the greatest??doubt it
efren came from nowhere and then revolutionizes the game of pool even in this era of modern pool..it was a shock
now if these kind of playin came out from nowhere durng the time of worst or mosconi??what would be the mpact up to now...unfathomable!!!
if efren was playing during the era of mosconi , worst or lassiter..will they be winning lots of this championship as they were if efren is around??
now if these guys were playing today...would they stand out and still manipulate championships and can take claim from the fans worldwide that they are the greatest??doubt it
efren came from nowhere and then revolutionizes the game of pool even in this era of modern pool..it was a shock
now if these kind of playin came out from nowhere durng the time of worst or mosconi??what would be the mpact up to now...unfathomable!!!
I believe that the question is best answered by looking at the degree of dominance of the player in question during their era. Who dominated more over the competition of that era?... and to what degree?
In general, the skill level of athletes within a sport improves over time. For example, the pro football players in the 60s could not compete very well at all in 2007. I doubt that very few would make a pro team today. The nature of competitive sports dictates that the skill level of the athletes within a sport will gradually improve due to the competitiveness of all of the athletes within that sport. Baseball, basketball, most all hand/eye coordination sports... the cue sports included.
Going back to the dominance factor... consider Mohammed Ali... Secretariat... Babe Ruth... Wayne Gretsky... they all dominated during their era. Their degree of dominance is what should be compared... not... trying to speculate who would win if they were IN the same era... just a thought to consider.
In general, the skill level of athletes within a sport improves over time. For example, the pro football players in the 60s could not compete very well at all in 2007. I doubt that very few would make a pro team today. The nature of competitive sports dictates that the skill level of the athletes within a sport will gradually improve due to the competitiveness of all of the athletes within that sport. Baseball, basketball, most all hand/eye coordination sports... the cue sports included.
Going back to the dominance factor... consider Mohammed Ali... Secretariat... Babe Ruth... Wayne Gretsky... they all dominated during their era. Their degree of dominance is what should be compared... not... trying to speculate who would win if they were IN the same era... just a thought to consider.
hang-the-9 said:
Is that Santos on the left?
cigardave said:
No, that's the guy on Efren's left and someone thought that was Bustamante. I'm talking about the other guy.
Jude Rosenstock said:
That "other" guy looks like Snooky Villanueva, used to be a notch above shortstop, now a C player. The guy on Efren's left is Dick, a backer for both Busta and Efren. Nobody even mentioned Buddy Hall here, and THIS is Accustats Magazine's Vol. 1, No. 1 edition!
Funny..........
Gregg said:
gopi-1 said:That "other" guy looks like Snooky Villanueva, used to be a notch above shortstop, now a C player. The guy on Efren's left is Dick, a backer for both Busta and Efren. Nobody even mentioned Buddy Hall here, and THIS is Accustats Magazine's Vol. 1, No. 1 edition!
Well, everybody should know that's Buddy Hall. I swear that's Santos, though. It's really bugging me now.
gopi-1 said:
Okay, I'll believe you but I'm never visiting this thread again. It's just going to bug me!
Bob Jewett said:
Wasn't DeOro around in the early 1900's? There is no way that he had competition anywhere near to what it is now. He probably only had a handful of opponents on a regular basis. He obviously wasn't travelling the world and playing in zillions of tournaments like Efren has. A comparison like that doesn't have any merit, IMHO.
Not even players like Mosconi had as much exposure to this many world class players. There are way too many worldbeaters today that play many different games, compared to pool back in the 40's, 50's and 60's.
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victhestick
Registered
Efren did not become a full time player in the USA until his late thirties. I saw him play in the Philippines when he was 22-27. When I first saw him on tv in the states, the only thing I could think was "What's wrong with you Efren? Why are you playing so bad? Who knows how many titles he would have won if he had came 15 years yearlier?
AnitoKid said:
Just how great is Efren Bata Reyes, aka The Magician?
A video for all pool players and fans!
Much thanks for looking! Link is here, friends!
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Have you guys noticed that the guy to the right of Efren looks like DENNIS ORCULLO? His father maybe....