i TV Pinoy

Source: June Navarro, inquirer.net

-- As a devoted disciple, the last thing Rubilen Amit would do is to give Efren ``Bata'' Reyes enough reason to doubt her.

Again, Amit didn't disappoint Thursday night, backing up Reyes with superb pocketing and positioning as Team Philippines mowed down Charlie Williams and Eun Ji Park of Korea, 9-7, to rule the 2009 World Mixed Doubles Classic.

Armed with a mechanical bridge, Amit led the decisive 10th ball rolling smoothly to the corner pocket for the victory that sealed the deal for the Filipinos and the $6,000 champions' purse that went with it.

Reyes and Amit actually exploited a miscalculated masse by Williams on the blue marble on the 16th frame that opened the floodgates of opportunity for the two world champions to sweep the table clean.

``We just tried not to get pressured. I guess getting the advice of Tata Efren (Reyes) and following them on those important shots proved beneficial,'' said Amit, the reigning World 10-ball women's champion who looks up to Reyes as a mentor and father.

Scratching their last three breaks, Reyes and Amit engaged the Koreans in an intense exchange of placement shots in the 15th rack with the Filipinos getting the better end after Park exposed the decisive three ball that put Team Philippines on the hill, 8-7.

Down two racks to none, the Filipinos capitalized on a miscalculated attempt by Park on the second ball to wipe out the marbles and take the third frame.

The Koreans bounced back in the succeeding set for a 3-1 advantage but just as they were about widen the gap, Williams drove the cue behind the purple ball that blocked his view on the three, allowing the Filipinos to cash in.

Williams also muffed a seven-nine combo on the corner, providing ample opportunity for Reyes and Amit to seize the seventh rack and sweep the table clean on the next set to level the count at 4-all.

From there, both teams traded frames before Williams reduced the match to a race-to-two encounter with a carom on the yellow ball that led the tenth to the corner pocket.

"We won because we worked as a team and I am blessed with a gifted partner," said “The Magician”, referring to his partner. Amit meanwhile acknowledged Reyes' guidance whenever she missed shots.

"It's great to be paired with him and he reviews what went wrong with my missed shots," said Amit, who will be joining the RP Team on SEA games on December 6-19.

Lee Vann Corteza and Filipino-foreign player Shanelle Loraine of Team Philippines B subdued Team Europe's Mika Immonen and Borana Andoni, 7-3, to bag third-place honors and the $1,500 prize. Immonen and Andoni pocketed $1,000 for landing fourth.

Japan's Hayato Hijikata and Kaori Ebe secured fifth place after downing Shane Van Boening and Amy Chen of the United States, 5-3, in the tournament supported by Dragon Promotions, Puyat Sports, ABS-CBN Sports and ESPN-Star Sports.