Reyes played Vietnam’s Nguyen Tran Thanh Tu in the semifinals of the one-cushion carom event at the SEA Games in Hanoi on Wednesday.
In a 40-year professional career, Reyes has won almost everything there is to win, including the U.S. Open, Challenge of Champions and World Pool League Championship.
He has been inducted into the Billiards Hall of Fame.
At the ongoing SEA Games in Hanoi, Reyes did not play the pool event, his favorite, and only one- and three-cushion carom since no one else in the Philippines was able to.
Even before the games began, Reyes had admitted he had no chance to win a gold medal because the best cueists in Southeast Asia now are from Vietnam.
And that was shown in the semifinal. After leading 5-0 in the first turn, he was not able to keep up as Thanh Tu came back and led by 27 points. Eventually, Reyes lost 55-100 to win the bronze medal.
But Reyes kept a smile on his face as usual despite losing, while in the stands Vietnamese fans chanted his name.
After the match, Tu took a selfie with Reyes, who is an idol for many younger players.
In his prime, Reyes was famous for his unorthodox and unique style and fans called him 'The Magician.'
The presence of the legendary player at the SEA Games has got Vietnamese fans excited.
After the game, he said: "I can see that many Vietnamese fans were looking forward to seeing me play. I don't play carom frequently, and that's why I did not do well. Even when I lost, many supported me, and I want to thank you all so much."
A fan brought along a painting of Reyes and waited to get his autograph outside the arena.
"The level of Vietnamese cueists has improved a lot, they are playing better by the day. There are so many pros in one- and three-cushion carom. I'd like to come back to Vietnam and I'd like the SEA Games to be hosted here."
