Billiards,one of the four big Bs of Philippine sports, was a constant source of pride for hilippine games aficionados. So well-known has this sport become that it has edged out basketball game as the favorite sports among the Filipino teens, if one is to think of the number of billiard places in the nation nowadays. 

This trend will be attributed to the exploits of Filipino cue performers who have invaded various world wide tournaments before two decades. The mere mention of the names Bata, Django, Amang, Lining and others could easily elicit admiration from Filipino billiard aficionados. 

This is a proven reality, and not a hyperbole if you state that Filipino cue artists are among the world's foremost that have played the game. 

Efren "Bata" Reyes 
While Paeng is recognized as the top Filipino player, Efren "Bata" Reyes is absolutely the foremost respected Filipino winner. A 1999 review conducted by local poll firm Social Weather Stations (SWS) demonstrated that "the Magician" is the games character numerous admired by Filipinos. 

Bata's magic will be attributed to his humility and his sheer happiness in associating with the common tao. His appeal can also be credited to the fact which he was a world winner for oftentimes and is considered the optimum billiard player of all time. 

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

Simply because of his achievements in Wales, his 2 gold medals in the twentieth Southeast Asian Games in Brunei, and 5 some other major worldwide titles all-in-one year, Bata obtained the Athlete in the year of 1999. On the second time, he was called Athlete of the Year for his exploits in 2001. 

In its December 21, 2001 issue, the prestigious Time Magazine has involved Reyes in its roster world's the best in sports and defined him as the Philippines' "sole bona fide worldwide sports superstar". 

Besides the World 8-Ball and Word 9-Ball championships, many other worldwide tournaments he has bagged since 1985 include 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 the year 1995, the US magazine "Billiards Digest" called 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 released 2 Asiad gold medals for the Philippines. In the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, Romeo Villanueva and Gandy Valle taken home the country's only gold medal, after taking the 9-ball doubles event title. On October 7, 2002, Francisco "Django" Bustamante and Antonio "Nikoy" copied the accomplishment by winning the 9-ball doubles event at the 14th Asian Games located in Busan, South Korea. 

Other Pool Champions 
Besides Bata and Django, the Philippines teems with world billiards champions. Jose "Amang" Parica, as an example, was the first pool player in the US in the year 1997. Other winners 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.