2007-your Man In Manila

JimS said:
Are the spectators silent while the match is being played? Too bad you can't be in a sound-resistant booth close to the match... above the table(s). This current arrangement sounds like it would make the whole experience somewhat less fun for you than maybe I would have anticpated it would/could be. But I still am green w/envy that you and Cuaba and others are there.
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Yeah, I'm green too. How about some scuttlebutt? What is Alcano saying about getting knocked out of the tourney by Peach. I know Peach is a good player but Ronnie was supposed to be tough as a pit. And what about the Crown Prince. How does he handle himself, not just with a cue but how does he treat other pool players? Are players winning any matches because they are playing smarter or is it the most fearless players winning most of the time.
JoeyA (starving)
 
What a round of eliminations we had yesterday. Many of the top filipinos went down in flames. Marlon got bombed by Babica 10-1. Ronnie Alcano was sent to the showers by Darryl Peach. And Efren looked terrible in his loss to Stepanov from Russia. Van Corteza lost to De Luna, but I don't consider that a big upset. Jeff is coming off that big win in the Pacman Invitational and is breaking better than anyone.

None other than Charley "Hillbilly" Bryant sat in with me on the commentary of the Efren-Stepanov match, and when we talked abou6 the remaining players he also commented on De Luna's big break. He said the guy has a bigger break then him. I was surprised to hear that coming from Charley. By the way, he does a very good job working the matches. A strong clear voice and nice analysis of situations. They love his Southern drawl over here.

Yang from Taiwan also lost in a lackluster performance against Kawabata from Japan. I sat with a Chinese journalist who told me Yang is losing interest in Pool at age 29! Most of the other Taiwanese picks made it through to the round of 32. Hot players right now include Django, who is in DEAD STROKE and playing with supreme confidence and intensity. He wants this one bad and you can see the desire etched on his face. Alex is hanging around and Shane quietly moved on with a good win over Gabica, another top filipino. This was the same guy who ducked us for a money game earlier in the week. Too bad Shane must leave immnediately after the tournament for his match with Earl. There was lots of good tough action for him here. Maybe next time.

Speaking of Earl, he also lost yesterday to Luong from Viet Nam. Luong couldn't be much more than 100 pounds sopping wet, but he is a PLAYER! I believe he got top eight here last year. Earl was up to his usual antics pointing at people in the crowd who clapped at the wrong time and being very demonstrative about his perceived misfortunes. But I will say this for him, he kept his head in the match and was trying hard to win. He never gave up and actually had a chance to take it, but a couple of costly mistakes late in the match gave Luong a hard fought 10-8 win. Earl showed flashes of his old form here, but just not enough.

One thing that amazed me was that he noticed me sitting high in the bleachers. I was watching from the last row of the bleachers and was quiet as a mouse. As you know already Earl has "rabbit ears" for anything that anyone says during a match. And he has lazer vision for any movement, even high up in the arena. Kind of reminds me of Mosconi that way. Well toward the end of the match, Earl made a good safety and hooked Luong. Luong made a nice hit and left Earl with the object ball just off the side rail and the cue ball about two diamonds away, directly across from it. Not the best of positions, but not the worst either.

Once upon a time Earl may have blasted in this off angle, cross side bank and run out. Or played a lock 'em up safety to win the game. Not this time. Instead he chose to lament his fate (?) and look up at me in the stands and point his cue at me. He then said "That's what you wanted". Strange that he would focus on me with the match on the line. Naturally he lost the game and the match soon after. Maybe he should have kept his attention on the task at hand. I was totally prepared to eat my words if Earl went deep in this
tournament. But he only proved my point, that he is not the Earl of old. He is a shell of that once great player.
 
JoeyA said:
Yeah, I'm green too. How about some scuttlebutt? What is Alcano saying about getting knocked out of the tourney by Peach. I know Peach is a good player but Ronnie was supposed to be tough as a pit. And what about the Crown Prince. How does he handle himself, not just with a cue but how does he treat other pool players? Are players winning any matches because they are playing smarter or is it the most fearless players winning most of the time.
JoeyA (starving)
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The Crown (almost wrote clown) Prince is kept isolated from everyone else. He has a raft of bodyguards surrounding him at all times and his own private waiting room. NO ONE can talk with him, not even yours truly, who will wade thru ankle deep ca ca to get the info I seek. He played his usual game here, POOR! I'm still glad a man of his wealth enjoys pool. With one fell stroke he could change the entire landscape of the game. For him, a series of million dollar events would be peanuts. I'll keep trying and perhaps one day have a private meeting with him. Who knows? I still believe in miracles.
 
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A little more skinny on the scene around here. Yesterday, Mikaela and I went to the pharmacy to get some medication for an upset stomach she was dealing with. We go to a counter lined with people talking directly to the pharmicists. They keep bringing back little packages of medicine. Now it's Mikaela's turn and she speaks briefly with the pharmacist in Tagolog. Soon she returns with a small package with two pills for her. 30 pesos is all and we are off. I look at the medicine. These are prescription drugs! No doctor's prescription necessary. I ask Mikaela if you need a prescription from a doctor to buy any medicine. She has no idea what I'm talking about.

So that's how it works over here. You tell the pharmicist what ails you and they get medicine for you. A de facto physician! And it's even better if you know what to ask for. I tried it today. Mikaela and I went to the same pharmacy and I said I was sick and wanted some Amoxillin, a common antibiotic. No problem, she is back in minutes with four 500 mg pills in a small pouch. 40 pesos! That's not quite one dollar! I have been treated! And this is the real deal, real Amoxillin pills.

Kind of makes you realize how we are getting royally shafted over here by the drug companies and physicians too. I wonder if they get a kickback on all the prescription meds they prescribe for their patients. I am getting a clearer picture now. I mean c'mon, one dollar for the exact same medicine we would be paying $15-20 a pill for in the USA. It's a joke right, but the jokes on us. And remember we must make a doctor's visit just to get the prescription to buy the medicine we need. Does the words SCAM and RIPOFF somehow fit this picture? And I'm in a "Third World" nation as I'm constantly reminded. Maybe the Third World ain't so bad after all. They say approx. 100,000 Amricans are living in Manila and surrounding areas. I can see why. LOW cost of living and everything and anything is available at bargain prices. Makes you wonder why more Senior citizens are not moving here. Maybe they just don't know or have been scared/warned off. It's probably much safer here than any big city in the USA.
 
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JoeyA said:
Yeah, I'm green too. How about some scuttlebutt? What is Alcano saying about getting knocked out of the tourney by Peach. I know Peach is a good player but Ronnie was supposed to be tough as a pit. And what about the Crown Prince. How does he handle himself, not just with a cue but how does he treat other pool players? Are players winning any matches because they are playing smarter or is it the most fearless players winning most of the time.
JoeyA (starving)
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Both! You must play smart and have tons of heart! A good break is necessary to win here just like Ronnie was doing last year. Most players are breaking soft to medium soft. I like Jeff De Luna's thundering break more. With the soft break, balls are almost always tied up and a safety battle begins. With a break like Jeff's, who is making two and three balls at a time, everything is in the clear. All he has to do is keep the cue ball on the table.

Jeff and I talked before his match with Corteza, and he asked me how I liked his break. I told him to stick with it. If he can keep it working it may bring him home. Reminds me of Earl in his prime, when he was running five and six racks a match. Great defensive play will not overcome that kind of offense. And Jeff is a great shotmaker to boot. He may not have to worry about defense!

96 down, only 32 left! Did I say SVB was alive and quite well thank you.
 
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My favourite player Roberto Gomez put up a show last night, with 5 B&R in a row against Alex Lely on the tv-table, plus 3 more to win 10 - 1.

(I said already in January/February that I think Gomez will be the next World Champion, so remember where you heard it first) :)
 
I'm back online at the venue. I was busy watching yesterday. I seated besides Jay on the Earl Strickland - Luong Chi-Dung match and it was one hell of a match. Jay, tell us the juicy story about Earl's banter during that match, I don't wanna spoil it for you, ;)

Edit: You told the story above. My bad, I didn't read first before posting.

jay helfert said:
Both! You must play smart and have tons of heart! A good break is necessary to win here just like Ronnie was doing last year. Most players are breaking soft to medium soft. I like Jeff De Luna's thundering break more. With the soft break, balls are almost always tied up and a safety battle begins. With a break like Jeff's, who is making two and three balls at a time, everything is in the clear. All he has to do is keep the cue ball on the table.

Jeff and I talked before his match with Corteza, and he asked me how I liked his break. I told him to stick with it. If he can keep it working it may bring him home. Reminds me of Earl in his prime, when he was running five and six racks a match. Great defensive play will not overcome that kind of offense. And Jeff is a great shotmaker to boot. He may not have to worry about defense!

96 down, only 32 left! Did I say SVB was alive and quite well thank you.
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Yesterday, I was watching the SVB - Gabica match. I was seated inside The Arena (Table 1) where I can see it up close. The pinoy big guns where also watching (Efren, Dyango, Ronnie and De Luna(not big gun yet)) and Dyango was having a go at both Efren and Ronnie. He told DL how he was shooting great and the cross bank that he did (of course in tagalog). Efren looked at Ronnie and said "You see the showoff, he talks too much because he already won. Do you think he would have shoot that bloody thing if he was not way ahead?) Everyone around was laughing at their banter.

While Efren was waiting for his match at that time, lots of fans where coming towards him for signature. Everyone was told off with a smile, while pointing at Ronnie, "Let him sign, he is not affected by it anyway." Everyone had a good laugh again.

It was hellarious out there when this big guns was having a go at each other in tagalog and Efren/Dyanjo in Kapangpangan. De Luna was all mum and was not talking. He was repecting the elders. :D
 
Damn, I forgot my card reader. I just took a picture of SVB watching the ongoing Joven Bustamante and Wu Cha-Ching match right now. He is seated up on a corner by himself.
 
BlowFish said:
Yesterday, I was watching the SVB - Gabica match. I was seated inside The Arena (Table 1) where I can see it up close. The pinoy big guns where also watching (Efren, Dyango, Ronnie and De Luna(not big gun yet)) and Dyango was having a go at both Efren and Ronnie. He told DL how he was shooting great and the cross bank that he did (of course in tagalog). Efren looked at Ronnie and said "You see the showoff, he talks too much because he already won. Do you think he would have shoot that bloody thing if he was not way ahead?) Everyone around was laughing at their banter.

While Efren was waiting for his match at that time, lots of fans where coming towards him for signature. Everyone was told off with a smile, while pointing at Ronnie, "Let him sign, he is not affected by it anyway." Everyone had a good laugh again.

It was hellarious out there when this big guns was having a go at each other in tagalog and Efren/Dyanjo in Kapangpangan. De Luna was all mum and was not talking. He was repecting the elders. :D
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I remember Django's shot on the 1 ball. It was a looong crossbank from the
headrail to the footrail pocket which he nailed. If my memory serves me
right, the score was 8-1 and it was an easy shot when you're a hundred
miles ahead of your opponent. It would be spectacular if he made it on a
hill-hill situation, like the CoC finals match of Fong Pang Chao and Busti
himself...
 
Van Beoning lost to Foldes 10 - 8

Van looked impressive as well considering he'd just won the US Open, was a strong contender to go all the way if he got his game together but it a tough tough field.

Leaves only the Prince of Pool left waving the american flag :(

C'mon Corey!! Get intae them!
 
That's a shame....SVB winning the WPC could just be the news that would take pool into the mainstream US media again.....

oh well, there's still corey, the original poster boy for US pool.....
 
COREY DEUEL wins!!! 10 -9 what a match!!

C'mon everybody....usa...USA..usa..USA


wait a sec i am not even american :eek:
 
The Europeans are making the big splash here with Immonen, Peach, Boyes, Foldes, Feijen and Stepanov still in and all playing well. Van Den Berg had a chance against Django last night but slipped up at 8-9, not making a ball on the break. Django ran out from there.

"Superman" Gomez is the other filipino who is hot at the right time, and Alex has to play his countrymen today. Shane didn't look good in his match with Foldes, who is a very good player. Foldes looks awkward, bouncing around the table all herky jerky. But he makes everything he can see, and pokes them in with little stress and strain. Shane could have won this match. He had his chances. A missed straight in 7 ball at 7-7 was his doom. He looked tight throughout the match. Never really comfortable at any time.

Shane showed up later to sweat Corey's match arm and arm with a very sweet Asian honey. She may be part of the Indonesian group who has adopted him. A real doll is all I have to say about her. The man has good taste. I'm betting it won't be long before he returns this way.

Corey was MAGNIFICENT, coming back from a 9-5 deficit to pull off a win against the top Taiwan player Chang Chung-Lin. He out moved, out shot and out thought his opponent at the end. Plus he showed some real heart in running out a difficult rack at hill-hill. When Corey wants to play, he can be a gifted player. He loves the big stage! Where all eyes are on him and the television cameras are recording everything. ALL matches from today on are televised. The lone American hope will not go down easily. He can smell the goal line.

Sixteen players left and it's anyone's game now. We go to Race To Eleven today until the Finals, which is a marathon to Seventeen.
 
jay helfert said:
The Europeans are making the big splash here with Immonen, Peach, Boyes, Foldes, Feijen and Stepanov still in and all playing well. Van Den Berg had a chance against Django last night but slipped up at 8-9, not making a ball on the break. Django ran out from there.

"Superman" Gomez is the other filipino who is hot at the right time, and Alex has to play his countrymen today. Shane didn't look good in his match with Foldes, who is a very good player. Foldes looks awkward, bouncing around the table all herky jerky. But he makes everything he can see, and pokes them in with little stress and strain. Shane could have won this match. He had his chances. A missed straight in 7 ball at 7-7 was his doom. He looked tight throughout the match. Never really comfortable at any time.

Shane showed up later to sweat Corey's match arm and arm with a very sweet Asian honey. She may be part of the Indonesian group who has adopted him. A real doll is all I have to say about her. The man has good taste. I'm betting it won't be long before he returns this way.

Corey was MAGNIFICENT, coming back from a 9-5 deficit to pull off a win against the top Taiwan player Chang Chung-Lin. He out moved, out shot and out thought his opponent at the end. Plus he showed some real heart in running out a difficult rack at hill-hill. When Corey wants to play, he can be a gifted player. He loves the big stage! Where all eyes are on him and the television cameras are recording everything. ALL matches from today on are televised. The lone American hope will not go down easily. He can smell the goal line.

Sixteen players left and it's anyone's game now. We go to Race To Eleven today until the Finals, which is a marathon to Seventeen.
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thanks for the report jay. Have you had a chance to do any gambling yourself? When does Corey play again?
thanks,
JoeyA
 
Fun Capitol of the World

jay helfert said:
Shane showed up later to sweat Corey's match arm and arm with a very sweet Asian honey. She may be part of the Indonesian group who has adopted him. A real doll is all I have to say about her. The man has good taste. I'm betting it won't be long before he returns this way.
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Send him to Bangkok. Sounds like he would have a great time here. Great pool scene too. I would love to show him around.
 
Man - Corey's got it all to do. IMO he got one of the hardest draws left in the field. He got it all to do. :eek:

If he can over come the "little monster" then i think that will really propel him to a platform where he can believe he can beat anyone.

They are all playing great so it hard to tell. With this soft break going so well for everyone it really is a matter luck and who takes their chances first
 
Maybe the gaol-line is the kick in the pants that Corey need to show the World 'WHO'S THE BOSS?"!

He has had a great event, for sure.
 
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