Efren "Bata" Reyes celebrated his 70th birthday

Billiards legend and "The Magician" Efren "Bata" Reyes celebrated his 70th birthday last  Monday. 

The Filipino athletes who attended his birthday paid tribute to Reyes and gave congratulatory and inspirational messages. Among those who gave messages and congratulations was two-time WPA Women's World 10-Ball Championship queen (2009 & 2013) Rubilen Amit.

Amit is one of the closest athletes to Reyes and he inspired Reyes in the world  of billiards. 

Reyes has won more than 100 international titles and is the first billiards player in the world to win two WPA World Championships in different pool disciplines.

Reyes also became a Champion in the WPA World 9-Ball Championship in 1999 in Cardiff, Wales and became a world champion again when he won the WPA World 8-Ball Championship in 2004 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Reyes also won big in the U.S Open 9-Ball Championship, four-time All Japan Championship winner, seven-time WPA Asian 9-Ball Tour champion and carved a record as a 14-time Derby City Classic ruler.

Reyes also won six gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in 1987, 1991, and 1999 respectively.