Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes falls to Earl Strickland in WNT Legends duel

Going up against another legend in the league, Efren “Bata” Reyes fell short in a 6–11 loss against the vintage performance of Earl “The Pearl” Strickland on the second day of the WNT Legends at the Gateway Mall, Jan. 23.

Their matchup evoked memories of the famous Color of Money contest, but this time, Strickland denied Reyes’ comeback attempts from start to finish.

Aiming with precise angles and a sharp awareness, The Pearl built on a solid 5–1 advantage over Reyes.

Despite the widening gap, Reyes refused to lie down, trying to keep up with Strickland by clinching two rounds, but was easily countered by a 7–3 cushion from the 64-year-old.

Trying to stay alive in the match, Reyes brought out the last trick up his sleeve in the waning moments, but the surge of The Pearl cut the rope that Reyes was hanging on to.

After the match, Reyes lauded the performance of Strickland.

“Congratulations to Earl, of course he was the better player today. Of course, I’m disappointed with the result, but it was special to share the stage with him again,” said Reyes.

Meanwhile, The Pearl shared his thoughts about his performance today as well as his mindset about the game with the legendary “Bata” Reyes.

“I played smart today, I had to. You can never be complacent against Efren; he’ll beat you silly. So I’m proud to have got the win. I still remember that Color of Money match like it was yesterday. I’ve learned so much from him. He’s an amazing player. There will never be another Efren,” Strickland shared.

Moving into his next match, Reyes will now face Germany’s Ralf Souquet for the bronze medal match on Friday, while Strickland will battle Francisco “Django” Bustamante in the final match.

With reports from Daily Tribune