Question about Jose Parica

[Positively Ralf]

I was talking to an older coworker who followed pro pool on TV in the 80s and 90s and it is really fun always talking to him. He followed the game pretty hardcore and even went out to some non TV tournaments like the big ones out in California.

Anyways, he mentioned Jose Parica. He told me that he feels that Efren's star power, how everyone loved him and how much the TV executives always preferred him over others due to ratings overshadowed how much better Parica was that Efren. Now dont get him wrong, he knows TV is about entertainment and outside of Strickland, it was hard to find a better showman for the game than Efren.

So my question is for all of you who watched both at their best, was Parica considered the better player between he and Efren? Or is this the case of my coworker just liking Parica's game more than Efren's?

 

[book collector]

Parica played great, Efren played better imo.
Efren didn't dog it much, no matter what the bet, so I give him the edge everywhere, and he was definitely more driven, in tournaments.

 

[nine_ball6970]

There are several threads on azb about this topic. Should be easily found by searching Jose Parica. Seems the consensus is that Parica was the better 9 ball player.

 

[Cornerman]

In addition to what people have reported, when a young Efren was “discovered” by author John Grissom in the 70’s, Efren was touted as the 2nd best player in the Philippines. Parica was #1. Of course, Efren was a teenager and just Bata (the kid). Parica was Amang (the man.).

 

[L.S. Dennis]

I'd like to hear Jay's opinion on this. I know that Parica was deadly, and why it took so long for him to enter the BCA Hall of Fame is beyond me.
I also know that for the money, he was one of the most feared players of all time.

 

[straightline]

I read someplace Parica comes from money - TV industry or something.

 

[sjm]

Parica was the better 9-ball player, even when Efren was selected to square off against Earl. Jose was the most feared money player in the 1990s and told me at the time that nobody would play him a ten ahead race at 9ball.

Efren, of course, was the better all-around player, but he was never the favorite over Jose at 9ball in the years in which they were both in their prime.

 

[jay helfert]

I'd like to hear Jay's opinion on this. I know that Parica was deadly, and why it took so long for him to enter the BCA Hall of Fame is beyond me.
I also know that for the money, he was one of the most feared players of all time.

No one and I mean NO ONE would gamble even with Jose at 9-Ball or Ten Ball for nearly twenty years! He was Amang (The Man) in the Philippines and he was THE MAN here as well. Interestingly though, Efren was still considered the better player at the Philippine's main game Rotation. Many don't know that in that game, which takes equal skill to One Pocket, Efren dominated for decades. Some of our top pros found out the hard way. Efren also excelled at One Pocket (we all know that), Snooker and Three Cushions. He may have been one of the top two All Around players of all time. Harold Worst is still the best in that category.

In my opinion, Jose Parica was the best 9-Ball or Ten Ball player I ever saw. His record in tournaments was good, but not great. He excelled in long matches where serious money was at stake. He seemed to thrive on pressure, and applied it liberally to his opponents. The next best pressure player was Dennis Orcollo who never flinched when big money was on the line.

 

[AtLarge]

... The next best pressure player was Dennis Orcollo who never flinched when big money was on the line.

Jay, will Dennis be able to return to the US at some point? If so, do you know when? Does he want to?

 

[straightline]

Didn't he used to play with a 15mm tip?

 

[sammylane12]

Parica played great, Efren played better imo.
Efren didn't dog it much, no matter what the bet, so I give him the edge everywhere, and he was definitely more driven, in tournaments.

The way you put this, it sounds like you are saying Parica had a little dog in him. No freaking way! Parica was one of the greatest money players that ever loved. I am not saying he was better than Efren but there was no dog in Parica.

 

[JAM]

Contrary to popular opinion, Jose Parica was the leader of the so-called "Filipino Invasion" in American pool. Both Efren and Jose are legends in their own right, but like most things in these Who's the Best threads, a person's age and region of the country where they live seem to affect their "Who's the Best favorites.

Jose is a good friend of mine, through Keith, of course. The two of them traveled on the road together, played against each other in action, and played with each other as partners. All's fair in love and pool, I guess. Much like Keith, Jose loved the horses., Jose's wife not so much when he came home after winning a tournament with empty pockets. I know that feeling well.

He is the only pool player I allowed to stay at my home when in town.

Photo taken in 2006 at Venetian a in Las Vegas I called it "Old Guard and Young Gun."

 

[jay helfert]

Jay, will Dennis be able to return to the US at some point? If so, do you know when? Does he want to?

Yes, but still almost three years away. He's two years into a five year ban. No telling what he will do then. He will be 47 or 48. His game has slipped during the last two years, although he is beginning to play in tournaments in Asia, with lackluster results so far.

 

[L.S. Dennis]

Parica was the better 9-ball player, even when Efren was selected to square off against Earl. Jose was the most feared money player in the 1990s and told me at the time that nobody would play him a ten ahead race at 9ball.

Efren, of course, was the better all-around player, but he was never the favorite over Jose at 9ball in the years in which they were both in their prime.

Stu, that ten ahead story doesn't surprise me one bit! If anybody else needs confirmation as how good he was just ask Buddy or Rodney.

On a side note, during the 90's while working for UAL I had a Filippino co-worker named Alex who was a good player in his own right. At one tournament during the mid 90's at the Sands, he introduced me to both Efren and Jose both of whom greeted me warmly. During that evening after tournament hours we met and had drinks with Jose and his friends at the Sand's bar down on the main floor. I remember Jose being engaging and affable and like all pro's loved to tell stories of his past wins, but also unashamedly talked about his loses as well. I ended up getting bombed on gin and tonics and am lucky to remember it at all! A very enjoyable evening to say the least!

 

[jalapus logan]

Parica was the better 9-ball player, even when Efren was selected to square off against Earl. Jose was the most feared money player in the 1990s and told me at the time that nobody would play him a ten ahead race at 9ball.

Efren, of course, was the better all-around player, but he was never the favorite over Jose at 9ball in the years in which they were both in their prime.

So this has me wondering how can one say who is the better player? If 9 ball is the premier test of skill, then it was Parica. But pool is not just 9 ball, it is onepocket, banks, 14.1, 8 Ball and more. My vote goes to Efren. And I would also like to cast a vote that the other games need more play.

It's all an academic discussion amongst pool fan(atic)s I guess. SJM, I always enjoy your well reasoned thoughts and of course your epic tourney recaps. Well played sir, keep at it please.

 

[jalapus logan]

No one and I mean NO ONE would gamble even with Jose at 9-Ball or Ten Ball for nearly twenty years! He was Amang (The Man) in the Philippines and he was THE MAN here as well. Interestingly though, Efren was still considered the better player at the Philippine's main game Rotation. Many don't know that in that game, which takes equal skill to One Pocket, Efren dominated for decades. Some of our top pros found out the hard way. Efren also excelled at One Pocket (we all know that), Snooker and Three Cushions. He may have been one of the top two All Around players of all time. Harold Worst is still the best in that category.

In my opinion, Jose Parica was the best 9-Ball or Ten Ball player I ever saw. His record in tournaments was good, but not great. He excelled in long matches where serious money was at stake. He seemed to thrive on pressure, and applied it liberally to his opponents. The next best pressure player was Dennis Orcollo who never flinched when big money was on the line.

About Dennis, you said before he is no longer the player he once was? So did he end up finally flinching? In all seriousness, I've not had the opportunity to watch him play in forever, but his top tier play has been forever burned into my brain. So did he just stop playing or what? Just curious as a fan.

 

[jalapus logan]

Contrary to popular opinion, Jose Parica was the leader of the so-called "Filipino Invasion" in American pool. Both Efren and Jose are legends in their own right, but like most things in these Who's the Best threads, a person's age and region of the country where they live seem to affect their "Who's the Best favorites.

Jose is a good friend of mine, through Keith, of course. The two of them traveled on the road together, played against each other in action, and played with each other as partners. All's fair in love and pool, I guess. Much like Keith, Jose loved the horses., Jose's wife not so much when he came home after winning a tournament with empty pockets. I know that feeling well.

He is the only pool player I allowed to stay at my home when in town.

Photo taken in 2006 at Venetian a in Las Vegas I called it "Old Guard and Young Gun."

View attachment 747688

Nice Jam. Was that photo around the time Keith beat Parica in 9 ball when he was wearing that black shirt with the sparkles in it? That match was great. I've got it on DVD...but no longer have a DVD player to play it on. That force follow shot Keith hit had Bill Incardona flummoxed....lololol

 

[Island Drive]

Jay how about? Do Dong?
Pinoy for sure but, not sure if the above name is correct.
Wore T shirts never dressed sharp but a monster, kind of looked like a raggedy bar table player.
He came to Denver in 80's.
Medina didn't like it on the 4 1/4'' GC table.

 

[maha]

both very close. jose was older so their peaks didnt coincide. and the competition was aged a little different.
and both were specialists at different games.

but in nine ball specially jose ran out a little bit more. and efin was better at getting out of tight spots.

 

[LowRight]

I watched both live for many years at the US Open 9-Ball Championships. Jose was great, but, except for his 9-ball break, Efren was better.

Here's what Robert Byrne related in his book, "Byrne's Wonderful World of Pool and Billiards" in the chapter entitled "The Man Behind the Videotapes," which is about Pat Fleming and his TPA ratings:

A player's TPA has a powerful predictive value. For instance, when Efren Reyes and Jose Parica came to the United States from the Philippines, most observers ranked them as roughly equal, but Pat Fleming soon was able to tell that Reyes was far superior. His TPA was around .910 while Parica's was around .830. A difference that great means two different classes of player, even though it's hard to separate them by casual observation. In the same way, it was easy to see that Jean Balukas was a fully competitive player because she was racking up TPAs of .900 playing against men.

You can take this with a grain of salt if you like. Likewise, Jose may have been sandbagging to get better money matches. So, in the end, maybe only Amang knows for sure.