(Seguin) — Seguin is about to land a trick shot of international proportions as billiards legend Efren “Bata” Reyes — the man many call the greatest pool player of all time — makes a rare and highly anticipated stop in town this Cinco de Mayo.
Reyes is scheduled to make an appearance this Tuesday at Seguin Bar & Billiards.
The Filipino billiards legend, known around the world as “The Magician,” is expected to make one of only a couple Texas stops during his reported U.S. visit, with Seguin believed to be one of just two appearances in Texas, alongside Dallas. At 72 years old, Reyes reportedly does not often make trips to the United States, making his appearance in Seguin an especially rare opportunity for billiards fans across the state.
Manuel Cevallos, owner of Seguin Bar & Billiards, says bringing Reyes to Seguin is something he considers both exciting and humbling.
“We are extremely excited and not only excited, but humbled, you know, and honored to have him here because to me, he’s like the GOAT of billiards, you know, just like a Tom Brady in football, you know, he’s nicknamed the magician. His shots are incredible. It’s like, you know, how does he even do that, you know? And yeah, he’s a Filipino professional pool player and a world champion, also VCA Hall of Famer. He had won more than 100 international titles and professional tournaments, and he was the first player to win world championships in two different pool disciplines. He learned He turned to cue sport while he was working as a billiards attendant at his uncle’s billiards hall, coming from the Philippines, you know, race and poverty and stuff like that, and how to be doing, you know, what he’s doing is just awesome. And like I said, to me, there’s a lot of good pool players out there, you know, professional ones, but to me, he’s the GOAT of them all,” said Cevallos.
Reyes is also best known as a four-time World Eight-ball champion, 1999 WPA World Nine-ball champion and multi-time U.S. Open winner.
Cevallos says his visit will give fans the chance not only to watch Reyes in action, but also to take photos and see the billiards icon up close in an intimate setting.
“It’s going to start at 6 o’clock. We had VIP tickets, you know, where you get a chance to play Ephron, you know, have matches to play them. Those are also allowed, however. But we do have tickets, you know, pre-sale tickets that are kind of like secondary seating and then the general admission and all that that we’re trying to sell presale. And then we will also be charging the doors,” said Cevallos.
General admission tickets are $20 in advance. Admission for children 12 and under is $15. Tickets at the door will be $25.
Cevallos says interest in the event has already stretched well beyond Seguin, with billiards fans purchasing tickets and planning trips from outside the city.
“I think it’s a great thing for the community, and to promote, the sport of billiards — a lot of people don’t, really look at it as like a sport like you do football and basketball, but it is, and it’s getting more and more popular,” said Cevallos.
Cevallos says to bring a person of this caliber to Seguin, it took plenty of business support and especially credits Stephen Banta, owner of BMF Welding, for making the special one-night appearance possible.
Those wishing to purchase tickets are asked to contact Cevallos at 830-556-7857. Seguin Bar & Billards is located at 113 N. River St.