The King is...... STILL ALIVE!

Good to see a genuinely nice person like Efren succeed.

Well, it's about time. I've been saying for years that this guy was finally gonna' break through and win something. I'm glad to see he is finally starting to realize his potential.
 
This win may be the most special of all. At a point in his career where he is getting pushed hard by many of the younger players and taking his share of losses as well, he somehow found the fortitude and gumption to win one of the hardest titles of all to take, the Derby City All Around Championship.

Everyone already knows what a great player Efren is, but in this event he showed more heart and courage than ever before in his long career. Efren reached deep for this one, somehow summoning the strength to beat back challenge after challenge. One last time he showed the world that there is only one EFREN. If he never wins another title or hits another ball, he will go down in pool annals just like Greenleaf and Mosconi before him.

He won this week with dignity and grace, accepting his losses as graciously as his victories. I hope all present, even the young hustlers who populated the back room, were paying attention. A player like Efren will not pass this way again. The only apt comparison was a very sickly and frail Harold Worst winning the All Around titles at Johnston City and the Stardust in 1965. A few short months later he was gone. Not once did Harold bemoan his fate or even mention his illness as an excuse. These are real men, not boys playing games!

What an honor to have seen them both play, the two greatest players of my lifetime. How fortunate I am.
 
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Congrats to Efren, by the way, does anyone really know how old he is?

I believe he is 55, but it is possible he is actually 57. There seems to be some dispute about his real age. It is entirely possible he was born without a birth certificate, and obtained one later in life. This is common in the Philippines.
 
Congrats to Efren.
Efren was born in August 26,1954.
From a small town where they don't have many dentists.
They yank more babies than bad teeth in Pampangga, Philippines. :eek::grin-square:

Efren might not be the best player ever, but he is indisputably the nicest person who shoots a mean stick ever.
 
Congrats Efren !!!

If your reading this it was also a real pleasure meeting you at the DCC.
 
I'm gonna throw my 2 cents in here. I can't begin to imagine how anyone, and I mean anyone, could have ever been better than Efren. I watched him play Santos in the Fatboy tourney a few nights ago. A shot came up where he was gonna play a safe and roll the one ball down table. He hit it with a bit of draw, dragging the cue ball to the side rail, and just enough inside english to move the cue ball forward and lock it on the 8. Leaving Santo's kicking 2 rails at the one.
Jay says it right, Efren don't shoot the balls in, he caresses them. I've seen almost all the top players play in person over the last 30 years, and none come close to him. No disrespect intended to anyone. But he's a cut above, and a true Champion. We're all blessed to get to see him play. That's my opinion of Efren's play.

Congrat's to the Greatest player of all time.


I agree 100%. Efren's touch is like no other. He honestly comes with shots that other players don't even see. I do think that a lot of players still get name stung when they play him. You can really see Efren's carom background coming into play when he plays. I have learned so many shots watching him all these years but I can only execute a fraction of them.

Maybe Efren should win the Louie Roberts this year as well. Not only did he ENTERTAIN us all with all these wins and high finishes but he stayed in action and even found time to OFFER Scott Frost a ball. Which to Scott's credit he declined and proved he didn't need it.

All I can say is WOW.

I do want to also extend congratulations to Rodney Morris as well. Rodney is always there and usually has high finishes but he has a hard time getting past Efren.

Congrats Bata. Thanks for a lifetime of great pool so far and here's looking towards seeing you win for another 25 years.
 
old men?

MR. Efern Reyes....thank you sir for killing all the old guy's action.....AGAIN! Now if your over 52 you may have to spot someone under 45 the 5 out,the breaks, for a lot of $, say 10 and time which is a lot when you on S.S........Right Efern

And who said Scott Frost in the WHAT???? now...should have waited till Efern went home...

P.S. Don;'t ever wake a sleeping Lion when he own's the jungle!!
 
If really is a shame that one of the sports networks doesnt do a special on Efren.
Its long overdue IMO.

A segment on the Bryant Gumbal sports show would be great. They seem to dig down to the real meat of all the stories. I think in efren's case it would be his demeanor and his financial support of over 40 people.
 
I wish I had Efren's "rookie card" one day when pool I'd popular it will be worth a fortune.
 
"The Magician" Efren Reyes

"The Magician" Efren Reyes, does it once again! Champions find a way to win, and Efren dug down and did just that! Efren undoubtedley will be remembered throughout the ages that he was one of, if not the best pool player that has ever lived!

Congrats Bata!


David Harcrow
 
Efren Reyes

This win may be the most special of all. At a point in his career where he is getting pushed hard by many of the younger players and taking his share of losses as well, he somehow found the fortitude and gumption to win one of the hardest titles of all to take, the Derby City All Around Championship.

Everyone already knows what a great player Efren is, but in this event he showed more heart and courage than ever before in his long career. Efren reached deep for this one, somehow summoning the strength to beat back challenge after challenge. One last time he showed the world that there is only one EFREN. If he never wins another title or hits another ball, he will go down in pool annals just like Greenleaf and Mosconi before him.

He won this week with dignity and grace, accepting his losses as graciously as his victories. I hope all present, even the young hustlers who populated the back room, were paying attention. A player like Efren will not pass this way again. The only apt comparison was a very sickly and frail Harold Worst winning the All Around titles at Johnston City and the Stardust in 1965. A few short months later he was gone. Not once did Harold bemoan his fate or even mention his illness as an excuse. These are real men, not boys playing games!

What an honor to have seen them both play, the two greatest players of my lifetime. How fortunate I am.



I agree Jay, Efren is someone very special in the pool world, and we have all been blessed to have him!


David Harcrow
 
You make us proud.

I would usually pass on making comments on the forum but I think this one is too special not to... as it may never happen again to be honest...

I am a Filipino and a great fan of Efren. I try to play pool every once in a while but because of the work I'm doing I will never really get that much chance to improve my game. :) Playing professionally will forever be a far-fetched fantasy... :)

And so i just go ahead and watch it on TV/internet every chance that I can... and I love following Efren's matches. If there is one thing I want him to know in case he or his friends read this, is that he makes me damn proud as a Filipino.... he epitomizes the humble, God-fearing Pinoy, who just works hard and makes full use of his talents... and when succeeding stays grounded, never boasts and never steps on other people's toes...

Today is the first time i bought a pool PPV match and was so much worth it. My wife laughs at me because I tremble and have shivers whenever I watch him play, I'm more nervous than someone watching table-side I guess... 'coz I know that he has been faltering lately and I so want him to win everytime... :) I get even more excited to watch the awarding ceremonies to see how he will just grin and say how lucky he was and how the other players and referees would jokingly tease him... I'll say it over and over, you really make us proud Efren! (for me more than Pacman really!)

I will close this by saying big thanks to this site (Azbilliards) and all pool fans who post here... your updates and colorful comments makes following pool even more interesting, I've been a member of the forum (more a lurker really) for close to 6 years now and I never fail to check out the site/forum at least once a week to see what's happening in the pool scene all around the world... and I've learned so much just from reading thru people's posts... I really wish for this sport to flourish in the future and for people like you to get more credit 'coz you deserve it. :)

I made a promise to myself today to grab the next chance to meet (and greet) Efren personally... I feel ashamed that he has been closer to me geographically (as I lived in the Phils. until 2 yrs ago) than many others who want to meet him, but I've never bothered really making the effort... I will get his autograph one day and let him know how proud he makes me and how too many other pool fans around the world really revere him... I promise, I will get that chance... before it's too late... :)

Thanks for reading if you got to here!
and congrats again to Efren! Mabuhay ka!
 
Efren is a once in a life time player, I'm just glad it was during my life time.
 
he epitomizes the humble, God-fearing Pinoy, who just works hard and makes full use of his talents... and when succeeding stays grounded, never boasts and never steps on other people's toes...

Now there is what it's really about. The man behind the cue. Humility is what makes watching Efren such a treat.

Thank you for an excellent, heart-felt post. :groucho: :groucho: :groucho:
 
If really is a shame that one of the sports networks doesnt do a special on Efren.
Its long overdue IMO.

A segment on the Bryant Gumbal sports show would be great. They seem to dig down to the real meat of all the stories. I think in efren's case it would be his demeanor and his financial support of over 40 people.

Rep to you. This show could really work, particularly if Bryant delved into his popularity in his own country, and his lack of here. If there was a scene in the Philippines with him getting recognized, his appearance on the game show, advertisements for pool in the country, and then contrast all of that with his personal demeanor, ending the interview with his "I got lucky", it could be a real good show.

Kelly
 
Now there is what it's really about. The man behind the cue. Humility is what makes watching Efren such a treat.

Thank you for an excellent, heart-felt post. :groucho: :groucho: :groucho:


Thanks sir! Hoping to get to post more on the forum....

God bless you and your family.
 
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