Efren's Top 3 Toughest Opponents

Runner said:
I remember Bata saying he really respected Buddy Hall, both for his play and knowledge of the game. I have almost every match between Efren and Earl... the
classic match up, firepower vs finesse. Earl recognizes just how great Efren is.
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I'm not convinced he could ever publicly give Buddy the same respect he just did the other three

i mean Buddy smoked him for big cash as did Nick for that matter

career wise not sure who who had the better winning percentages

Earl smoked him in the first part of that tcom match, dude is just not built for the long haul

hell, not sure why he didn't mention Parica who he ran from for decades
 
PoolBum said:
I've seen July 11, 1952, and July 11, 1953 as his birth date. If it's the latter he would have been 23 when he won the U.S. Open in 1976, not 22.
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Depending when it was held. The dates have changed through the years. The US Open site itself doesn't have a date for 76. Actually, it says he was 21 when he won the inaugural in 76, which is incorrect.

Wikipedia has 53. Plus, I know him from the Citrus Open at Baker's in Tampa in the 70s. He's a year older than me.
 
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PoolBum said:
I've seen July 11, 1952, and July 11, 1953 as his birth date. If it's the latter he would have been 23 when he won the U.S. Open in 1976, not 22.
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By the by... meant to tell you this earlier. LOVE your quote. Camus was a wildman. And, boy, did he hit the nail on the head with that book. I read it in high school. Your quote makes me want to read it again, especially these days.
 
Michael Andros said:
By the by... meant to tell you this earlier. LOVE your quote. Camus was a wildman. And, boy, did he hit the nail on the head with that book. I read it in high school. Your quote makes me want to read it again, especially these days.
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Thanks. The Plague is the only novel I've ever read cover-to-cover in one sitting. I took a course in college that was just on Camus.
 
smashmouth said:
I'm not convinced he could ever publicly give Buddy the same respect he just did the other three

i mean Buddy smoked him for big cash as did Nick for that matter

career wise not sure who who had the better winning percentages

Earl smoked him in the first part of that tcom match, dude is just not built for the long haul

hell, not sure why he didn't mention Parica who he ran from for decades
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i just seem to remember Efren being asked in an interview who he thought was the best 9 ball player, and he said Buddy Hall... some old PBT video? Dunno...

Now, Parica.. I don't see a lot of discussions about Jose 'Amang' Parica on AZ...
boy was he fierce.
 
PoolBum said:
Thanks. The Plague is the only novel I've ever read cover-to-cover in one sitting. I took a course in college that was just on Camus.
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He was, ummmm... a smart guy.

The Myth of Sisyphus: another great book, though a bit harder to grasp than The Plague.
 
Runner said:
i just seem to remember Efren being asked in an interview who he thought was the best 9 ball player, and he said Buddy Hall... some old PBT video? Dunno...

Now, Parica.. I don't see a lot of discussions about Jose 'Amang' Parica on AZ...
boy was he fierce.
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And he still IS. Saw him play a Seminole Tour event a few years ago. TOP NOTCH.
 
Efren's nemesis at nine ball was Ralf Souquet, who had a career winning record against the Magician.
 
Michael Andros said:
And he still IS. Saw him play a Seminole Tour event a few years ago. TOP NOTCH.
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Pretty sure he's retired... this Jan. post has a great shot of the Pinoys at Jose's
'retirement' party.. I used quotes because he could probably chalk it up and still play jam up... top notch indeed. Watched an old match in Japan vs Efren... I love Efren but he just couldn't get started, Parica just motored through to win.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?467506&p=6062348#post6062348
 
Runner said:
Pretty sure he's retired... this Jan. post has a great shot of the Pinoys at Jose's
'retirement' party.. I used quotes because he could probably chalk it up and still play jam up... top notch indeed. Watched an old match in Japan vs Efren... I love Efren but he just couldn't get started, Parica just motored through to win.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?467506&p=6062348#post6062348
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He's gotta be close to 70 now. Traveling that much has to take a toll. Love watching him play. Was lucky enough to see him in person many times.
 
Gotta love it!

Gotta love pool. What other game/sport would be so hard to keep track of who won?

So hard to have a clear "Greatest" winner. Funny stuff. So we all pick who we think was the best!

One thing is for sure, all of the mentioned players were great!

But, who won the most money in their pool career according to tournament pay outs?

Has to be Efren, right?
 
Michael Andros said:
He's gotta be close to 70 now. Traveling that much has to take a toll. Love watching him play. Was lucky enough to see him in person many times.
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Yep, used to see him in So Cal at Hard Times, and at the tournaments... I'd always sweat his matchups.
 
Runner said:
Yep, used to see him in So Cal at Hard Times, and at the tournaments... I'd always sweat his matchups.
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At a tournament at C.M. Lee's In Seminole, Fl, @ 87 or thereabouts, Mizerak was sitting in a folding chair, sweating a match. Parica walks up to him ( and as most know, Parica is somewhat "vertically challenged" ) and Parica is the same height standing as Miz is sitting. Mizerak looks at him and Parica says" You got the 8 ball, fat man!" Mizerak doesn't say a word and Parica just walks away. I'll never forget that image, that they were the same height and I remember thinking Parica's self image regarding pool was around 6' 4", 240 lbs. He literally wasn't afraid of *anyone*.
 
Michael Andros said:
At a tournament at C.M. Lee's In Seminole, Fl, @ 87 or thereabouts, Mizerak was sitting in a folding chair, sweating a match. Parica walks up to him ( and as most know, Parica is somewhat "vertically challenged" ) and Parica is the same height standing as Miz is sitting. Mizerak looks at him and Parica says" You got the 8 ball, fat man!" Mizerak doesn't say a word and Parica just walks away. I'll never forget that image, that they were the same height and I remember thinking Parica's self image regarding pool was around 6' 4", 240 lbs. He literally wasn't afraid of *anyone*.
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Hah, love that... he wasn't a big guy, but man, he'd give 'em THAT look... heart of a LION. Maybe we ought to start an "Amang" thread.:thumbup:
That 1988 World 9 Ball match (Japan) should be on YT.. Parica in fine form, playing with a Meucci, I think (!).. Efren never got out of first gear.
"One ball, IN!" "Three ball, IN!".. and the guy wiping down the rails after each game!
 
Runner said:
Hah, love that... he wasn't a big guy, but man, he'd give 'em THAT look... heart of a LION. Maybe we ought to start an "Amang" thread.:thumbup:
That 1988 World 9 Ball match (Japan) should be on YT.. Parica in fine form, playing with a Meucci, I think (!).. Efren never got out of first gear.
"One ball, IN!" "Three ball, IN!".. and the guy wiping down the rails after each game!
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I've always liked the way he plays... Bustimonte and Efren ( and a bunch of other Filipinos ) have that stroke-every-which-way-from-Sunday thing going with their right arm ( left if left handed ). Parica is much more "less-is-more", in the movement department.

By the way, here's that match, I believe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPHjfRpvk5g&t=2855s
 
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