An Efren forum?
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Perhaps a homage section that highlights each Pro Hall of famer/road warrior thru their own individual threads . Starting with their bio, then their titles/ accomplishments, and lastly some inside stories about their character out of the public eye, their side hustles, and behind the scene money matches.
I know we have a Azb HoF thread, but that area is more of an obituary section.
Im thinking there should be a section that provides education & celebrates HoF pros and road warriors.
I know we have a Azb HoF thread, but that area is more of an obituary section.
Im thinking there should be a section that provides education & celebrates HoF pros and road warriors.
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Probably the only thing about him you won't be able to find already online or in a book is how often he has sex and his bank statement. He is one of the most interviewed and known personalities in the sport, especially if you find some things from the Philippines.
tomatoshooter
Well-known member
Mizerak has his own. I don't think we should have one for every player of note but if anyone deserves their own forum, it's Efren.
I agree there should be a place to tell stories about Efren.
“Players” was a pool room in Van Nuys which is about 12 miles from Downtown Los Angeles. I was in the room because Efren was scheduled to play someone, sorry I do not remember his opponent, One Pocket.
Efren was there and the room was full of spectators all waiting for Efren's game to arrive.
I got tired of waiting so I told Efren's translator, I think his name was Rolando, that I would play Efren even One Pocket for $50 a game.
Rolando went over to talk with Efren and came back and said, "Efren said okay but he will give you a spot".
I didn't ask what the spot was because it wouldn't matter. I was going to play him and whatever the spot I was sure I was going to lose.
At the end of the second game Rolando comes over and says, "Efren's game is here". I gave Rolando a one hundred bill and put away my cue.
After a few minutes Rolando came back and as he handed me back my one hundred dollar bill he said, "Efren said you don't pay".
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I'd love to hear them- like many here, efren is a fave of mine. how bout we just start an efren thread, and everybody can contribute there?
I just updated my post.
fun story- thanks for sharing! did anything stand out to you about playing efren?
My Efren stories all came from watching at the Sands Reno tournament starting in '85. It was held twice a year and we tried to make our vacation trip from Seattle at least once a year.
My favorite shot would be a jump shot. Efren had played the most incredible safety that had the cueball in the Jaws of the corner pocket and no way out. As there were 3 balls in a semi circle just inches from the corner. The arrangement was such that the ball closest to the foot rail allowed passage between it and the middle ball with a slight bump of it to the rail and then back to close the door. There was no way out and another ball had accidentally found a pocket, leaving Efren to escape his own trap. This was before jump cues. Efren jacked up and bounced the cueball off the pocket point to hit the object ball that was in the vicinity of the side pocket. Not only did he hit it but he also got a hook out of it.
I would always get there early to secure a seat near the two Philippines gentlemen with the briefcase of money. On one occasion Cole, with beer in hand, approached and wanted to bet a thousand that Ed Kelly would get to 7 in the race to 9 that was about to start. The two put their heads together and responded, " you bet one thousand and Ed get to 8. You bet two thousand and Ed get to 7." So Cole evidently needed to think and went back to the bar. Minutes later he came back with, "Okay 2 thousand Ed gets to 7." By my memories Ed was the only player to get to 7 against Efren that tournament.
Could have been the year he played Earl in the finals. Efren broke and ran 3, then first shot after the break he over cut the one ball leaving it in the middle of the foot rail. The cue ball tip toed through the other balls and found the back side of the ball closest to the head rail and got married.
After Earl gave up ball in hand Efren ran 3 more and Did It Again. Married to the ball near the opposite end from the one which was middle of foot rail again! was a little disconcerting to Earl. His second shot and down 6-0 brought out The Earl. The gallery loved his antics and even prodded Earl with, "Break Your Cue."
My favorite shot would be a jump shot. Efren had played the most incredible safety that had the cueball in the Jaws of the corner pocket and no way out. As there were 3 balls in a semi circle just inches from the corner. The arrangement was such that the ball closest to the foot rail allowed passage between it and the middle ball with a slight bump of it to the rail and then back to close the door. There was no way out and another ball had accidentally found a pocket, leaving Efren to escape his own trap. This was before jump cues. Efren jacked up and bounced the cueball off the pocket point to hit the object ball that was in the vicinity of the side pocket. Not only did he hit it but he also got a hook out of it.
I would always get there early to secure a seat near the two Philippines gentlemen with the briefcase of money. On one occasion Cole, with beer in hand, approached and wanted to bet a thousand that Ed Kelly would get to 7 in the race to 9 that was about to start. The two put their heads together and responded, " you bet one thousand and Ed get to 8. You bet two thousand and Ed get to 7." So Cole evidently needed to think and went back to the bar. Minutes later he came back with, "Okay 2 thousand Ed gets to 7." By my memories Ed was the only player to get to 7 against Efren that tournament.
Could have been the year he played Earl in the finals. Efren broke and ran 3, then first shot after the break he over cut the one ball leaving it in the middle of the foot rail. The cue ball tip toed through the other balls and found the back side of the ball closest to the head rail and got married.
After Earl gave up ball in hand Efren ran 3 more and Did It Again. Married to the ball near the opposite end from the one which was middle of foot rail again! was a little disconcerting to Earl. His second shot and down 6-0 brought out The Earl. The gallery loved his antics and even prodded Earl with, "Break Your Cue."
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Okay one more. Efren was in the practice room hitting balls. Another player approached and asked Efren for a straight pool game. As they were talking in a semi negotiation mode, Efren ran 2 racks In Rotation. Upon completion he turned and asked, "Are you sure you want to play straight pool?"
I somewhat remember when he First Arrived and played in Houston at the Reds Tournament.
I think they named him Cesear Morales?
Was a long time ago, early 80's.
No one knew who he was at the time, Scott Smith might of.
Anywho he proceeds to beat all challengers, and after the herd thinned, Medina was all puffed up ready to beat em, I think a $1000 set (a good bet back then) Dino got drilled.
After Cesear had gone thru all the top player$ Buddy Hall like a big Bull frog, waiting for the physical wear down of this man, took down the dough, not sure how much or what, as I was also matched up during that game and was doin' my own thing.
That's when it began.
bm
I think they named him Cesear Morales?
Was a long time ago, early 80's.
No one knew who he was at the time, Scott Smith might of.
Anywho he proceeds to beat all challengers, and after the herd thinned, Medina was all puffed up ready to beat em, I think a $1000 set (a good bet back then) Dino got drilled.
After Cesear had gone thru all the top player$ Buddy Hall like a big Bull frog, waiting for the physical wear down of this man, took down the dough, not sure how much or what, as I was also matched up during that game and was doin' my own thing.
That's when it began.
bm
Twocylndr
Well-known member
I think the thread has been started.
My first pro tournament was in Lake Tahoe in '84. Parica was there and to the raving on his skills, his response was, "I am not the best player in the Philippines." Ceasar Morales showed up shortly after that.
like what? Efren himself? His game? His cue? His favorite food? What are you trying to find out? Writing a book? 4.5MILLION results: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-e&q=Efren+Reyes Point is there is a TON of info on the guy.
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Little things like....does he ever get bored after millions (?) of shots, what exactly is his visual acuity, what do doctors say about the pain that seems to somewhat plague him in the shoulder some time, exactly how good is his chess game, etc.
The shoulder rub that I'm aware of is the monkey.
He laughs to himself, at a simple error and does this mannerism to get it ''off his back''.
I too laugh at myself when I make a simple mistake, it helps to be nice/remember and it's much easier to move on to better.
He laughs to himself, at a simple error and does this mannerism to get it ''off his back''.
I too laugh at myself when I make a simple mistake, it helps to be nice/remember and it's much easier to move on to better.
Again, why? Honestly curious. Here's one: 'Can he play 8b??' Well yes Virginia he sure can.
Mixed messages...are you slamming my thread by including your positive post?
I got to play Efren in the 2000 US One Pocket Open up in Kalamazoo.
It went like this:
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Saturday morning I headed over to the Playground and just tried to get my mind set before my match with, arguably, the greatest all around pool player of all time. When I got to the tournament room the line was: you could bet either way whether I'd get to one. I decided that's what I'd shoot for: to take one game off Efren Reyes. I'd told AllenB the night before I would really appreciate it if he could snap a photo of me lagging with Efren to prove to future generations that this match had actually taken place. Alan said no problem and a man of his word was there setup in time with his camera.
Well, we were put on Table Two right in front of the largest section of bleachers and they were packed. Everyone wanted to see Efren play. I was just along for the ride. I put down a good lag but Efren put the ball within an inch of the rail. I looked at my watch. It was one o'clock.
The first game did not go well for me. He broke the balls and I was under the gun the entire game. When he didn't have a shot he'd gently spin the cue ball one or two rails and snuggle it up against a ball. I and the crowd laughed out loud at the positions he'd put me in. I lost the first game 8-0. It was while I was racking the balls to break (it was a rack your own tournament) that the dawning realization came upon me that it was quite possible that, not only could I lose the match 4-0, I could conceivably lose the match against a player of this caliber without scoring a single ball.
I broke well the second game. Shortly after the break he left me frozen on the side rail just above my pocket. I looked at the rack for a long time. There was an unfrozen three ball combination that just might go. But the only way to hit it right was to send the cue ball into a fourth ball and then have it carom into the third ball in the combination chain. I'd have to hit it at warp speed to get enough energy on the shot to get the last ball in the combination to the pocket. If it didn't go I was toast because the stack was going to explode.
IMO, one of the more beautiful shots in pool is when a cluster of balls is stuck hard and the object ball eventually emerges from the stack and slowly begins marching towards its assigned pocket. Despite shooting with brio the two ball virtually crawled towards its destination with total mayhem around it. As I watched the shot it seemed as if all the other object balls and the cue ball were in motion and every single one of them wanted to kiss out the two ball. But somehow it made it safe and sound to its destination. The ball dropped. The crowd burst into applause.
Still, the balls were spread too wide for me to get out. As the game progressed we got to the point at which I needed two and Efren needed one. And then, something began to become apparent to me, and then to everyone in the stands, and eventually to Efren: Lou was banking well today. Real well.
Efren kissed into a shot and sold out the last two balls. A modest cut shot with moderately difficult position on the out ball. I missed. All I could hear in the stands were muttered, "Well, he had a chance..." A few innings later, I missed a thin hit to play safe and had to spot a ball. Now I needed three. But then it happened. I banked three and out to take the second game. The monkey was off my back.
Efren took the next game. Twice he tied me up so bad my only option was to kick three rails and then two rails for an intentional scratch. But I pulled both of them off. The crowd started applauding my shots and the increasingly ridiculous accuracy and consistency of my bank shots.
I took the fourth game 8-0 to tie it up at 2-2. The fifth game we went down to the last three balls, all down table on the side rail just below the side pocket on his side. I needed all three and went for the home run: a carom and combination bank that would send two towards my hole and the third up table to my side. The shot went kaablewwweee and left Efren straight in. Nonetheless, my banks continued to go, as if on wires.
The last game was another battle but he was just too strong. (I mean, it's Efren.). I lose 4-2, I look at my watch and it's 3:30. I had wrestled with Efren Reyes in a race to four for two and a half hours and taken two games off him. I swear I'm not making this up but during the match Buddy Hall was playing on one side of us, Steve Cook on the other, and during the course of the match I got at least six rounds of applause from the crowd for my bank shots. There was not one round of applause for Hall, Cook, or Reyes. Buddy in particular kept looking over at our table wondering what the hell was going on.
As I shook Efren's hand after the match he said smiling in the high clipped accent he has, "Louis bank good. Miss straight in."
That about summed it up.
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Lou Figueroa
It went like this:
#####
Saturday morning I headed over to the Playground and just tried to get my mind set before my match with, arguably, the greatest all around pool player of all time. When I got to the tournament room the line was: you could bet either way whether I'd get to one. I decided that's what I'd shoot for: to take one game off Efren Reyes. I'd told AllenB the night before I would really appreciate it if he could snap a photo of me lagging with Efren to prove to future generations that this match had actually taken place. Alan said no problem and a man of his word was there setup in time with his camera.
Well, we were put on Table Two right in front of the largest section of bleachers and they were packed. Everyone wanted to see Efren play. I was just along for the ride. I put down a good lag but Efren put the ball within an inch of the rail. I looked at my watch. It was one o'clock.
The first game did not go well for me. He broke the balls and I was under the gun the entire game. When he didn't have a shot he'd gently spin the cue ball one or two rails and snuggle it up against a ball. I and the crowd laughed out loud at the positions he'd put me in. I lost the first game 8-0. It was while I was racking the balls to break (it was a rack your own tournament) that the dawning realization came upon me that it was quite possible that, not only could I lose the match 4-0, I could conceivably lose the match against a player of this caliber without scoring a single ball.
I broke well the second game. Shortly after the break he left me frozen on the side rail just above my pocket. I looked at the rack for a long time. There was an unfrozen three ball combination that just might go. But the only way to hit it right was to send the cue ball into a fourth ball and then have it carom into the third ball in the combination chain. I'd have to hit it at warp speed to get enough energy on the shot to get the last ball in the combination to the pocket. If it didn't go I was toast because the stack was going to explode.
IMO, one of the more beautiful shots in pool is when a cluster of balls is stuck hard and the object ball eventually emerges from the stack and slowly begins marching towards its assigned pocket. Despite shooting with brio the two ball virtually crawled towards its destination with total mayhem around it. As I watched the shot it seemed as if all the other object balls and the cue ball were in motion and every single one of them wanted to kiss out the two ball. But somehow it made it safe and sound to its destination. The ball dropped. The crowd burst into applause.
Still, the balls were spread too wide for me to get out. As the game progressed we got to the point at which I needed two and Efren needed one. And then, something began to become apparent to me, and then to everyone in the stands, and eventually to Efren: Lou was banking well today. Real well.
Efren kissed into a shot and sold out the last two balls. A modest cut shot with moderately difficult position on the out ball. I missed. All I could hear in the stands were muttered, "Well, he had a chance..." A few innings later, I missed a thin hit to play safe and had to spot a ball. Now I needed three. But then it happened. I banked three and out to take the second game. The monkey was off my back.
Efren took the next game. Twice he tied me up so bad my only option was to kick three rails and then two rails for an intentional scratch. But I pulled both of them off. The crowd started applauding my shots and the increasingly ridiculous accuracy and consistency of my bank shots.
I took the fourth game 8-0 to tie it up at 2-2. The fifth game we went down to the last three balls, all down table on the side rail just below the side pocket on his side. I needed all three and went for the home run: a carom and combination bank that would send two towards my hole and the third up table to my side. The shot went kaablewwweee and left Efren straight in. Nonetheless, my banks continued to go, as if on wires.
The last game was another battle but he was just too strong. (I mean, it's Efren.). I lose 4-2, I look at my watch and it's 3:30. I had wrestled with Efren Reyes in a race to four for two and a half hours and taken two games off him. I swear I'm not making this up but during the match Buddy Hall was playing on one side of us, Steve Cook on the other, and during the course of the match I got at least six rounds of applause from the crowd for my bank shots. There was not one round of applause for Hall, Cook, or Reyes. Buddy in particular kept looking over at our table wondering what the hell was going on.
As I shook Efren's hand after the match he said smiling in the high clipped accent he has, "Louis bank good. Miss straight in."
That about summed it up.
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Lou Figueroa
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