A little report for yo'all. I went to the Horizon Plaza Mall yesterday to do some shopping. It is right across the road from my hotel, the Orchid Gardens. So I'm walking thru the mall and I spy a three table poolroom smack dab in the middle. Only in Manila would this be possible.
I walk in and ask who the best player is, and everyone points at one guy. His name is Bon and turns out he is the owner of this little establishment. I challenge him to a game and he readily accepts. He asks me if I want to gamble. I say sure and he says how about 1,000p a game (about $25). Okay I say, let's go. He sees that I'm serious so he says no bet, let's just play. Fine with me, I just feel like playing.
We agree to play Eight Ball and off we go. Bon can play, he has a good cue and they are his tables. I win the first game. ha ha. I carry a small scotch brite pad and a little tip tool, so I can work a house cue, and I do. I'm not a complete sucker you know. I ask Bon if I can check out his cue and he hands it to me. This is a friendly game after all. It's a nice custom made filipino cue and it feels good. I like it so he lets me play with it.
Now I'm winning more games then him and a large crowd has gathered around the poolroom. People are calling me Earl Strickland. I guess it's the only American name they all know. Kind of ironic huh. We have a good session for a couple of hours and I tell him thanks for the game. I go back to my shopping, game over.
Last night I hit One Side early. I practice a little with the owner watching me. His name is Aso from Japan. We talk about Japanese players like Fujima (a legend), Okimura and Takahashi. He sees that I'm struggling and he gets me his Mezz cue. NICE! I can play with this cue. A good looking filipino guy saunters in with his very attractive lady friend, both with cues in tow. He sits down next to my table and totally sweats me. So finally, I can't stand it and I ask him if he wants to play.
Turns out to be another fun game but so what. I like to play pool, money or not. We play 9-Ball and I'm rolling now. Totally put Chris in his chair. I'm playing pretty good and getting every roll. We've all seen both ends of this. He is getting frustrated so I take a dinner break and let his girl play. I watch and chat. Many of the good locals are coming in, and they remember me from my last visits. I will not play these guys even, unless it's One Pocket or Banks, and that just ain't gonna happen.
I hang a while and finally go back to my hotel. Michaela is coming the next morn, so I need my rest. I'm with her today, so no more pool for a while. Duty first and all that nonsense.
...Tom
