Pacquiao met with several of the country’s esteemed pool players.
Arguably two of the most prominent figures in Philippine sports came together for a memorable evening of enjoyable and friendly competition.
After trying out weightlifting with Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, boxing icon Manny Pacquiao decided to try out billiards this time as he faced the man, the myth, the legend, Efren "Bata" Reyes.
The two competed in a 10-ball exhibition match that took place on Thursday night at the Mansion Sports Bar and Lounge in Makati City.
This exclusive, by-invitation only event was organized by the online gaming platform M88 Mansion, whose goal was to generate interest in billiards and, of course, promote the venue as one of the top upscale sports bars and lounges in the city.
Although Reyes emerged as the victor in the race-to-nine match, by a score of 9-4, Pacquiao held his own against arguably one of the greatest billiards players of all time—if not the greatest of them all.
But it wasn’t just Reyes and Pacquiao who were there.
Fellow pool legend Francisco “Django” Bustamante was also present, as was Rubilen Amit, the first Filipina world pool champion and one of the country's best pool players at present. Even the godfather of Philippine billiards himself, Aristeo “Putch” Puyat, graced the event.
It is not often a legend walks in a bar, let alone three. So, it is safe to say that those lucky enough to be part of the exclusive event had a moment in time.
(MDB)