I think the Filipinos are simply just more comfortable in different situations just because they are more used to travelling and playing in all types of environments. Chang Jung Lin from Taiwan had a good finish though considering that the people he lost to are Alex and Ronnie. If it was a format of magic rack with side breaks, I would give the edge to Chang to take it all, but the Filipinos are definitely more versatile to different playing conditions and formats.
I agree. That was also my point, them going to many different places to play puts them into a better to position to excel despite the conditions.
I really expected to see some of the Chinese and Taiwanese do better but I think it's due to the conditions and the jet lag that they didn't do better. I talked with Oscar Dominguez and he said all the guys he has played in China are invited to come to his house and play on his tables for as much as they carry. He just feels like the conditions in China vs. the USA are worth several games at the minimum.
He ought to know. FWIW though I also think that Filipinos also have a natural disposition to not caring too much about the conditions and adapting to them. Nothing wrong with the US Open conditions just saying that I think that they have the attitude that they can walk into any situation and PLAY.
Now having said that, when Luat was here a month or so ago he played a couple low stakes matches and one of them on Chinese conditions, super fast cloth with weird reactions off the rails he lost because he could not keep control of the cue ball. The next night he played on an old Gold Crown with slower cloth and he won.
But really, to end up with five of the top six spots!!!
Someone needs to get the American pros together and put them through constant match play like the Filipinos in Manila. I wish I had the money, I would back an American team and do just that. Not because I think that the Americans would dominate, those days are over now that the rest of the world has caught up, but because I think that Americans are simply too soft right now due to lack of constant competition for pecking order.