INQUIRER SPORTS TELLING THE FILIPINO STORY TO THE WORLD THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2010 3

billiards halls sprouted almost everywhere to

the point of over-saturation.
But Reyes, dubbed the “Magician” for his
ability to convert improbable shots, had much
more to offer.
He dominated the international circuit and
emerged its top earner in 2001 and 2002,
paving the way for his elevation to the Hall of
Fame, the first Asian to be bestowed the hon-
or, the following year by the Billiards Congress
of America.
In 2004, Reyes further enhanced his reputa-
tion as an all-time great when he ruled the in-
augural WPA 8-ball championship, becoming
pool’s first ever double winner and the year’s
richest cue artist yet again.
Despite his advancing age and blurring vi-
sion, Reyes partnered with bosom buddy and
recently installed Hall of Famer Francisco
“Django” Bustamante to capture the inaugural
World Cup of Pool in 2006.
“BATA” Reyes battles Poland’s Radoslaw Babica on the way to winning the World 9-Ball title.
Paeng bags historic fourth World Cup

The Filipino’s
FOLLOWING victories in
Tehran, Iran, on Nov. 19,
1976, when he was only 19
years old, and in Jakarta on
OF Nov. 1, 1980, Paeng Nepo-
THE muceno bagged his third
BEST World Cup in Le Mans,

time to shine
France, on Nov. 8, 1992
and his fourth in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on
Nov. 23, 1996.
The unparalleled successes earned Nepo-
muceno spots in the Guinness World Records
for having the most Bowling World Cup victo-
ries (four) and the youngest ever to win the
BEFORE MANNY Pacquiao, the names of Paeng Nepomuceno, Efren “Bata” Reyes World Cup (19). He booked another first with
and Lydia De Vega were already synonymous with Philippine sports. the most number of bowling tournament titles
Nepomuceno has four World Cups of Rosales and Delasin had already had their (118) throughout the world, including the
tenpin bowling under his belt; Reyes re- share of LPGA successes but teamed up for World Invitational tournament in 1984 and
mains the world’s most recognizable bil- flag and country to overcome the South Kore- the World Tenpin Masters Championship in
liards player with three world titles; De Ve- an duo of Shin Ji-yai and Ji Eun-hee and win 1999.
ga used to be Asia’s fastest woman. the crown in Sun City, South Africa. No wonder, Nepomuceno has been be-
Together with their international ex- Never before in the history of the game had stowed numerous honors by his peers, bowl-
ploits, we chronicled nine more gems that a Philippine pair prevailed over the rest of the ing chroniclers, sports movers and even politi-
landed in our top 25 stories: competition in the annual competition. cal leaders.
Rosales and Delasin themselves finished To cite a few, he was the first international
Lydia de Vega’s golden run second to Japan’s Ai Miyazato and Rui Kitada male bowler to be enshrined to the Interna-
IN THE 1986 Seoul Asian in the 2005 edition of the event, matching the tional Bowling Hall of Fame in 1993 and was
Games, Lydia De Vega pre- effort of the Philippine pairing of Rudy Labares honored as the Greatest International Bowler
pared to face a severe test and the legendary Ben Arda that wound up of All Time and as the International Bowling
from a tough 100-meter second in the men’s 1977 World Cup to the Athlete of the Millennium.
OF dash field that was ready to Spanish team of the popular Seve Ballesteros SEA Games champion at last
THE challenge her claim as and Antonio Garrido at Wack Wack’s East
THE PHILIPPINES hosted
BEST Asia’s fastest woman. course in Mandaluyong.
unleashed a perfect ride in to win the gold the biennial Southeast
Four years earlier, she The Korean pair Shin and Ji were comfort-
had edged Indian heroine ably in the lead after nine holes, but Rosales medal and send the national delegation home Asian Games for the third
PT Usha right in front of her countrymen to birdied the 11th and 12th holes and Delasin on the wings of victory. time in 2005 and was de-
win athletics’ centerpiece event, and the Indi- closed out with four consecutive birdies as the OF termined not to let the
an speedster was aching for payback. Filipinos finished at 18-under 198 at the Gary Bata Reyes weaves World 9-ball magic THE chance to win its first over-
Instead, De Vega came through with yet an- Player Country Club. THE VICTORY of Efren BEST all title slip away.
other memorable run, defeating her rival to The victory was worth $240,000 (about LYDIA De Vega “Bata” Reyes, perhaps the The Nationals complet-
win the gold medal—the country’s last in ath- P11.76 million) for Rosales and Delasin. flashes the No. 1 sign world’s most notable and ed the mission, nailing an awe-inspiring 113
letics in the Asiad—on the way to becoming “This win was all about the teamwork and as she rules the recognizable billiards play- gold medals on top of 84 silvers and 94
the country’s most loved track heroine. the team spirit Jennifer and I enjoyed over the century dash in the OF er, turned the sport into a bronzes to finish on top of the standings.
The long-legged 5-foot-7 charmer, who three days and it’s a win we want to dedicate Seoul Asian Games, THE booming industry in the Team Philippines was named Filipino of the
runs with the grace of a gazelle, also distin- to the people of the Philippines,” said Delasin. earning for herself BEST country. Year by the INQUIRER for that accomplishment.
guished herself as the quadrennial Games’ on- the title as Asia’s After Reyes’ heroics in Wushu was the winningest NSA (national
ly back-to-back sprint queen. Salvation from Mikee’s miracle ride fastest woman. the first televised world championship, classy THE FILIPINO’S/ W4
De Vega was even more dominant in the IT WAS 2002. The Asian
Asian Athletics Championships, where she Games in the port city of
completed sprint doubles in the 1983 and Busan in South Korea
1987 editions, and the biennial Southeast could not have ended on a
Asian Games, where she collected a total of OF more bitter note for the
nine gold medals and still holds the 100m THE Philippines.
mark of 11.28 seconds. BEST The country’s national
basketball team not only
Perfect teamwork lifts Rosales, got edged out of the Asian Games finals by a
Delasin to World Cup glory dagger of a triple by South Korea, it also
IN JANUARY 2008, Jen- missed out on a podium finish when it lost to
nifer Rosales and Dorothy Kazakhstan by a whisker in the battle for the
Delasin shot a best ball 7- bronze medal.
under-par 65 as the Philip- Equestrienne Mikee Cojuangco, though,
pines won the fourth Wom- rushed in to save the day.
OF en’s World Cup of Golf by As sportswriters were busy hammering out
THE two strokes over power- elegies to cap their coverage of the quadrenni-
BEST house South Korea. al meet, the comely, determined Cojuangco

HISTORIC ROLL
Paeng Nepomuceno
bowls his way to a
fourth World Cup
crown in Belfast,
Northern Ireland, in
1996. Tenpin bowling’s
governing body later
bestowed
Nepomuceno the title
of “International
Bowling Athlete of the
Millennium.” At left,
the tennis doubles
tandem of Cecil
Mamiit and Eric Taino
was one of the biggest
stars of SEA Games
champion Philippines.