Sports
* Efren “Bata” Reyes
Efren Bata Reyes is called the “Magician” of the game of billiards (specially nine-ball and one pocket) because of his ability to shoot the cue ball to target the designated object ball with precision. He has also a cunning skill in hiding balls for safety or shooting. He was born in Angeles City, Pampanga on August 26, 1954. At the young age of three, he already helped around in his uncle’s billiards hall and would dream of playing pool at night with his bed as the pool table. When he grew older, particularly in the sixties and seventies, he would play for money with the usual game of “carambola billiards” or three-cushion billiards. This is very popular in the Philippine billiards scene. After competing in local tournaments, he started winning in the US, Asia, and Europe. He became to be known as one of the world’s most profitable players, topping AZ Billiards Money List 5 Times from 2001 to 2006. He set a record in 2006 by earning $646K in a single year. Among his many titles and achievements is his being appointed as Philippine Sports Ambassador of the 2005 South East Asian Games, along with other great Filipino athletes. He was also the second top player in the “2007 Pool & Billiard Magazine Fans’ Top 20 Favourite Players”. His humble persona will certainly get you. Efren Bata Reyes continues to entertain and amaze billiards fans all throughout the world.
* Rafael “Paeng” Nepomuceno
Rafael “Paeng” Nepomuceno is a Filipino all-time great athlete in the field of bowling. Wikipedia.org lists his winnings in the World Cup of bowling four times as follows:
In Tehran, Iran on November 19,1976
In Jakarta, Indonesia on November 1,1980
In Le Mans, France on November 8,1992
In Belfast, Northern Ireland on November 23,1996
He is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records and has two unbroken records up to this day, one, for being the only athlete in the world to win world titles in three different decades, and the other, for being the youngest ever to have won the Bowling World Cup at 19 years old. In total, Paeng has won over 118 tournament titles, which is recognized by the World Tenpin Bowling Association as “a World Record for the most career titles.”
Furthermore, “he is the only bowling athlete who has received the prestigious International Olympic Committee President’s Trophy, which is the highest sports award that can be given to an athlete. Paeng was the first international male bowling athlete to be enshrined in the International Bowling Hall of Fame in St. Louis, Missouri in 1993, and his seven-foot image is displayed at the entrance of the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame. In November 1999, the Federation Internationale des Quilleurs (FIQ) named Paeng as the “International Bowling Athlete of the Millennium”.
This is truly a Filipino worth of praise and honour. His athletic skills in the field of bowling are very rare indeed. Definitely, you can watch out for more and be prepared for the next championship this truly great athlete would achieve.
* Emmanuel Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao
Known as “Pacman” in the boxing ring because of his ability to punch like a Pacman, (a computer game that hungrily gobbles dots along its way), he is famous for his series of punches that usually result in a knockout. Born on December 17, 1978 in Kibawe, Bukidnon, Philippines, he had his humble beginnings at the age of sixteen and started in the light flyweight division at 106 pounds. His early bouts took place in small venues and are usually shown in Vintage Sports’ “Blow by Blow”, an evening boxing show. His professional début took place on January 22, 1995 against Edmund Ignacio; he won by decision and instantly made him into an instant star of the program. A bout against the Mexican boxing idol Marco Antonio Barrera defined his career and greatly helped him to be recognized as a real good fighter. He defeated Barrera by TKO in the 11th round and brought his power in this first fight in the featherweight division. This victory was recognized by Ring Magazine as Pacquaio being the World Champion. He ran for a congressional seat in the first District of Cotabato opposite Darlene Antonino-Custodio but lost by a landslide of votes. This move was frowned on by fans and critics alike, fearing politics would mar his boxing career. The defeat in the elections gave them hope again that Manny can now focus more on his upcoming boxing fights. He is also a top endorser of various commercial products. His main sponsors are Nike and No Fear sportswear, and he also owns a lottery outlet for PCSO. He won his fight against David Diaz last June 28, 2008 at the Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, winning the WBC lightweight belt, and is now the first Asian to have won in four weight categories.
Comments
are they the most common? where are those who was known also before? i think they are also “great”
Paeng have another guiness record, making it his third guiness record… while manny demolished the famous Oscar Dela Hoya last December 6, 2008, ending 2008 with aloud BIG BANG for the Filipinos to celebrate.