Billiards Icon Crowned: Efren "Bata" Reyes Honored with PSA Lifetime Achievement Award

The Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) on Sunday announced that pool legend Efren "Bata" Reyes would be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award in its upcoming PSA Awards Night.

In a Facebook post, PSA noted how "The Magician" connected well with the masses despite the long list of achievements he accomplished for the country.

"Reyes, whose humble beginnings and simple demeanor endeared him to the Filipino masses, was the hands-down choice following the massive success he achieved both in the local and world stage," the PSA said in their post.

The association also acknowledged Reyes' accomplishment in the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, where he copped a bronze medal in the men's 1-cushion carom event, despite his deteriorating eyesight.

"Reyes, with his deteriorating eyesight, only settled for a bronze in the men’s carom (1 cushion) – not exactly his pet event – during the biennial meet, but nonetheless, was an inspiring presence in the team winning a total of 12 medals, four of them were golds," the association wrote.

Reyes is a three-time PSA Athlete of the Year awardee, winning the fete in 1999, 2001, and 2006. This year, the PSA will give the said recognition to Team Philippines for dominating last year's SEA Games.

The PSA Awards Night was scheduled on March 6 at the Manila Hotel.