Antonio Lining

mullyman

mullyman

Hung Like a Gnat!
Silver Member
Do you guys know Antonio Lining? Here's his Wikipedia entry:

Antonio Lining (b. May 9, 1963 in Mindoro, Philippines) is a Filipino pool player, nicknamed "Nikoy". He is one of the few left-handed Asian players.

Lining's most notable appearance was in the Motolite International Nine-ball Tournament in 2000 where he finished 2nd to Francisco Bustamante. Prior to that final, Lining bested Efren Reyes in the quarter-finals.[1]

At the 2002 Busan Asian Games, Lining and Bustamante won the gold medal at the nine-ball doubles event.

From there, he just makes small cameos in later events and showing some success, especially in events that are held in Japan.[not specific enough to verify]

[edit] Achievements

* 2006 Japan Open Nine-ball Champion
* 2005 Brunswick Open - Tokyo, Japan
* 2002 Busan Asian Games Gold Medalist
* 2000 All Japan Championship
* 1999 Muntinlupa National Open - Muntinlupa, Philippines
* 1998 Amagsaki Open - Amagsaki, Japan
* 1997 Pasay National Open - Davao, Philippines
* 1996 B's Open - Tokyo, Japan
* 1995 Davao National Open - Davao, Philippines
* 1994 Asian Championships - Taipei, Taiwan
* 1994 1st Indonesian Open - Jakarta, Indonesia
* 1992 Tung Pa Open - Taipei, Taiwan
* 1992 Hemeji Open - Osaka, Japan
* 1989 Scratch Open - Osaka, Japan
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He was here last night at a local room so I got a chance to play with him. Really solid player and according to rumor Efren says he's one of the top Filipino players out there.

We did a race to 7 for 50 bucks. I lost 7-4. I was really shooting good last night though. I broke and ran out one rack and ran out every rack that he missed a ball on.....so he missed 3 balls in 11 games. Pretty strong.....and the only reason he missed 2 of them was because he was going around the table with the CB, hit another ball and snookered himself. Had it not been for those 2 incidents he would have only missed one ball. Really really nice guy too. His English is pretty good, better than Efren's, and he speaks Japanese fairly well. It was kind of funny because we spoke partly in English and partly in Japanese. hehe!! It was a really good time though.

I honestly had never really heard much about him before yesterday. I'd heard his name before but that's about it. Looking at his Wikipedia entry it seems as if he spends quite a bit of time over here. I hope to meet up with him again.
MULLY
 
I saw him run a 6 or maybe 7 pack in 8 Ball for one of the IPT Q'rs which i believe he won. It was held at the new BBC in Bayside, whatever the current name is.

If Lining was from the USA, i beleive he would be in the top 4 year after year.
 
He spent some time over here in the San Francisco/Daly City area a couple years back. He plays lights out behind his back also...ask him and he'll play you that way.
 
By the way, he was using a cue that is made here in Japan, I didn't ask which maker, and it had a 314 shaft on it. Oddly enough, when I handed him my JMW he said "Is this a regular shaft?" I was a bit confused by what he meant by that but then he said that he's been using a 314 shaft for about 10 years now and probably wouldn't be able to shoot well with my cue. He shot 5 shots with my JMW and only pocketed 1.

He's a great player, I can attest to that, but just seeing how poorly he hit the ball with my "regular" shaft made me dislike these laminated shafts even more. I would hate to not be able to shoot with a regular cue.
MULLY
 
He can play right handed too. Heard this story: He was clowning around with friends giving the several balls while playing right. Then someone who didn't know him wanted to play him but wanted more balls. The he said ok but also said that to make the game more interesting he would play lefty. The guy readily accepted not knowing he was a natural lefty. Now you surely know how that match went... hahaha! What could have gone though the poor guys mind LOL.
 
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mullyman said:
By the way, he was using a cue that is made here in Japan, I didn't ask which maker, and it had a 314 shaft on it. Oddly enough, when I handed him my JMW he said "Is this a regular shaft?" I was a bit confused by what he meant by that but then he said that he's been using a 314 shaft for about 10 years now and probably wouldn't be able to shoot well with my cue. He shot 5 shots with my JMW and only pocketed 1.

He's a great player, I can attest to that, but just seeing how poorly he hit the ball with my "regular" shaft made me dislike these laminated shafts even more. I would hate to not be able to shoot with a regular cue.
MULLY
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I got to see Antonio play in the US Open a few years ago and he played great and I've heard Efren say that he thought Antonio was one of the best players he'd played against.

I've been playing with predator shafts for a few years and if I pick up a nice cue with a regular shaft I can't run out a rack of 9 ball. I like predator shafts and the way they play, but once I got used to them I can't play with a regular shaft anymore.

James
 
SCCues said:
I got to see Antonio play in the US Open a few years ago and he played great and I've heard Efren say that he thought Antonio was one of the best players he'd played against.

I've been playing with predator shafts for a few years and if I pick up a nice cue with a regular shaft I can't run out a rack of 9 ball. I like predator shafts and the way they play, but once I got used to them I can't play with a regular shaft anymore.

James
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Parica told me Lining was one of the top 4 Filipinos along with Reyes, Bustamante and himself after I was fortunate enough to beat Lining in a pro tournament. Lining wsn't at a lot of the tournaments I attended. I remembered him from a McDermott tour event a few years before where he ran 5 and out in the last three matches (me being the first victim) to win the tournament. He seemed to be screwing around until then.

Parica said Lining at the time gave big spots to other Filipinos, like the 6 to Santos, who is obviously a formidable player himself.
 
unknownpro said:
Parica said Lining at the time gave big spots to other Filipinos, like the 6 to Santos, who is obviously a formidable player himself.
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Yes, this was my recollection exactly. I'm sure that he gave up huge weight to guys that play jam up. I believe he gave Brian Groce the 6 and last 4. They played for a real long time, but Antonio got the money. I can remember Brian saying something like, "every 40 mins or hour I had to fade a 6 or an 8 pack." That is truly amazing. I believe this may have been on the bar table.
 
Think you're right

1on1pooltournys said:
Yes, this was my recollection exactly. I'm sure that he gave up huge weight to guys that play jam up. I believe he gave Brian Groce the 6 and last 4. They played for a real long time, but Antonio got the money. I can remember Brian saying something like, "every 40 mins or hour I had to fade a 6 or an 8 pack." That is truly amazing. I believe this may have been on the bar table.
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I was playing on a league team with Brian at the time, and when he came back into town he was talking about this match. I believe he said something like, "it's like playing Efren, except he has a monster break. And he runs out from everywhere. Every time he walks up to the table, it's like he expects to run 8 to 10 racks. "
 
satman said:
I was playing on a league team with Brian at the time, and when he came back into town he was talking about this match. I believe he said something like, "it's like playing Efren, except he has a monster break. And he runs out from everywhere. Every time he walks up to the table, it's like he expects to run 8 to 10 racks. "
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Sam ...The gentleman who was backing Brian told the story to me and Jack one night at league , ( I think you know who ) , was saying that about once an hour Lining would "come with a ten" ..that is scary ..!
 
I spent a winter 99-00 in Philippines, and at that time Lining was the best and most feared gambler in Philippines, after Efren of course whom nobody wanted to play.

He said himself, that when abroad, he doesn't play as good as Django, Parica or Luat.
But in every night money matches, he was the best. At that time, Alcano and Corteza were the up and coming players, Gabica just a notch below them but also raising his speed all the time. Luat was concidering himself as "too big star" and didn't have the heart to put his name on the line and play - he skipped one exhibition gambling match with Lining due to 'sickness', but everybody said he's afraid of Nikoy.
Alex and Dennis were not through yet, but Alex made some name already. Kiamco was other 'every night' worker there, also feared and respected, but not as much as Lining.

Django lived at that time still in Germany, and I heard a rumour that when he comes to Ph. Lining has to give him 8 ball in Rotation.

From whom ever locals you asked about their favorite players or "whose the strongest?" etc... they all said "Nikoy Lining". (please notice, that Efren wasn't included in that category - he was uncomparable, in a class of his own)


His game has gone down a bit I guess, he hasn't performed so well in International tournaments (as he never has - always below his gambling speed), but I'd guess if you go to his neighborhood in Metro Manila, he's still the lion king there.
 
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Mully he was in NYC maybe two years ago, I think he was living in Japan for a while. I actually thought he still was. Isn't Gallego in Japan as well?
 
mullyman said:
Do you guys know Antonio Lining? Here's his Wikipedia entry:




He was here last night at a local room so I got a chance to play with him. Really solid player and according to rumor Efren says he's one of the top Filipino players out there.

We did a race to 7 for 50 bucks. I lost 7-4. I was really shooting good last night though. I broke and ran out one rack and ran out every rack that he missed a ball on.....so he missed 3 balls in 11 games. Pretty strong.....and the only reason he missed 2 of them was because he was going around the table with the CB, hit another ball and snookered himself. Had it not been for those 2 incidents he would have only missed one ball. Really really nice guy too. His English is pretty good, better than Efren's, and he speaks Japanese fairly well. It was kind of funny because we spoke partly in English and partly in Japanese. hehe!! It was a really good time though.

I honestly had never really heard much about him before yesterday. I'd heard his name before but that's about it. Looking at his Wikipedia entry it seems as if he spends quite a bit of time over here. I hope to meet up with him again.
MULLY
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Well don't 'quote" me on the exact year, but back in around "2000' he was in Tyler,Texas, and Texarkana,Arkansas.

Antonio played Jack Hynes in Tyler, Texas ...even on a bar box,( "Won".)..then gave Jack the wild 8 and ("Won'.)......at the time I couldn't believe it, because Jack was a 12 game at 9-Ball run ..any time , run out guy at the table!

About 2 weeks later, my brother "Country Calvin' and I had the "Country Connection Open" on the bar box in Texarkana,Arkansas , races to 9, which Antonio won handily, ( he sold for $1,350) in the calcutta,...calcutta paid $2,000 for 1st,, and paid $1,000 for 1st, with a $25.00 entry fee..


We had players like, Scotty Townsend, Charlie Owens,Joe Salazar, Calvin Harcrow, Jimmy Sanders, Ermand Bullard,Jack Hynes,Mark Caviler,Dave Favors,Santos Sambrejon,Luat,Wade Crane, TJ Davis,Gabe Owen,Norman Wines,and many others to make the field.

Antonio played flawlessly, his excepitionaly "English" on the cue ball, and saftey was extraordinary!,,,,,,,he was "Praised" , by all the players that weekend!

As I remember he only had a couple of weeks left on his green card before he had to return oversea's.....He got a Large Trophy!, and his "Excellance" at pool will be remenbered on that weekend "Forever!"

Antonio was certaintly a gentleman while at our Tournament!


David Harcrow
 
Antonio was the mentor to the house pro where I worked, so whenever he was in Japan, my house pro always made me play him..............................................and not for free either! This guy has taken more money from me than any other player I've ever played. Course, in my mind, it wasn't gambling. I was buying the gentlemans time in my opinion. Our 'hanna dai' was one of the tigher tables I've ever played on, and Antonio split the pocket on almost everything he hit.
He's not really well known in the states because he pretty much chooses to stay in Japan most of the time. He's won, and is always a regular contender in the JPBA Japan Open, and also playes extensively on the JBC tour.
dave
 
Country Calvin

Wow.Country Calvin is your brother?Its been quite a long time since i've seen him.Now thats a colorful individual.I can tell a nice little story from about 10-11 years ago with him and Scotty Townsend matching up after a tourny in Monroe.Let me know if y'all want to hear it and I'll try to go over it in my head and get the story str8t.




catpool9 said:
Well don't 'quote" me on the exact year, but back in around "2000' he was in Tyler,Texas, and Texarkana,Arkansas.

Antonio played Jack Hynes in Tyler, Texas ...even on a bar box,( "Won".)..then gave Jack the wild 8 and ("Won'.)......at the time I couldn't believe it, because Jack was a 12 game at 9-Ball run ..any time , run out guy at the table!

About 2 weeks later, my brother "Country Calvin' and I had the "Country Connection Open" on the bar box in Texarkana,Arkansas , races to 9, which Antonio won handily, ( he sold for $1,350) in the calcutta,...calcutta paid $2,000 for 1st,, and paid $1,000 for 1st, with a $25.00 entry fee..


We had players like, Scotty Townsend, Charlie Owens,Joe Salazar, Calvin Harcrow, Jimmy Sanders, Ermand Bullard,Jack Hynes,Mark Caviler,Dave Favors,Santos Sambrejon,Luat,Wade Crane, TJ Davis,Gabe Owen,Norman Wines,and many others to make the field.

Antonio played flawlessly, his excepitionaly "English" on the cue ball, and saftey was extraordinary!,,,,,,,he was "Praised" , by all the players that weekend!

As I remember he only had a couple of weeks left on his green card before he had to return oversea's.....He got a Large Trophy!, and his "Excellance" at pool will be remenbered on that weekend "Forever!"

Antonio was certaintly a gentleman while at our Tournament!


David Harcrow
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"Nickoy" Lining has been nursing a bum left shoulder for about five years now. That explains the decline in his performance. One of the nicest Pinoy pros around.
 
mullyman said:
By the way, he was using a cue that is made here in Japan, I didn't ask which maker, and it had a 314 shaft on it.
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It is a Keith Andy... Japanese maker... they produce really nice solid cues but i just think that they are slightly over-priced.

Apparently Rodney Morris has also switched to this maker... and he came to Japan last month for a promo tour or something like that...

check out their site
www.keithAndy.com
 
Besides Antonio Lining, Ramil Gallego is also another Philipino pro who is staying in Tokyo...
You can always see them in the local pool halls here betting :D
 
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