Jay, Efren will be back next week on the 28th of August, Carlo Biado is asking Efren to play one pocket for p50k, lets wait for them to be back here and watch those two guys play in Hermes
Stay safe Jay
Back to Manila
- Thread starter jay helfert
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Jay, Efren will be back next week on the 28th of August, Carlo Biado is asking Efren to play one pocket for p50k, lets wait for them to be back here and watch those two guys play in Hermes
Stay safe Jay
Sounds good to me. Carlo learned a lot about One Pocket during the last two months in the USA. Let's just say he is a fast learner. He is probably picking up the game at the same pace Efren did many years ago. That said he is still an underdog here. Efren knows so much more than Carlo, who still shoots the wrong shot on occasion, or overlooks a good shot or move.
Carlo shoots so damn straight that he has a chance against anyone. Maybe the best pure shooter after John Schmidt.
Just weird why they can only give you a month long visa, where as if Igo to USA, i can stay there for at least 6 months
I will wait for your call
It used to be only 21 days, only extended to 30 days this year. This way the Bureau of Immigration can charge high fees for extended visas. 10,000p to stay 3 months!
i want to see the bautista pool cue your playing with over there? Any reason why you don't bring one from here? Heard cues warp real bad due to the weather, is it better having a cue made their that is acclimated to the climate?
Just want to hear your thoughts on cues and the climate over there???
Kd
Just want to hear your thoughts on cues and the climate over there???
Kd
I am not sure what grosses me out more, Balut or San Miguel.
I heard on the rail in Germany Efren is going to be there now, wait and see what happens(if what I heard is going to happen its going to be cool) The German guys are setting up a cool thing.
Good thing he left town before you got him Jay, I know you rob him right now, he is old and helpless
Enjoy the trip buddy!!
Not at this time. Now if I had a girl there........:thumbup:
I don't like the idea of checking my cue back and forth each time I come here. I prefer to have a cue waiting for me when I get here. I leave my cue at Dennis' house with all his other cues. It's kept at room temperature there just like it would be in my home. My only problem with the weather is some of the playing conditions I encounter, both inside and outside! I've played in several outdoor poolrooms covered only by a tent-like structure. And try playing sometime in a non air conditioned room (fans only) with the indoor temperature hovering around 90 with high humidity. Let's just say it's a challenge. :wink:
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hey Jay...
damn, you tell the best stories about pool i have ever read
not just now, but many times before both here on azb and also pool wars
i don't really know you tho we have met, but i truly admire you. your knowledge is limitless and your ability at expression is a joy for any reader... thanks for all the wonderful stories.
that said, i would only ask how are your daughter and girlfriend doing?
i hope very well and you are satisfied and a happy dad!
enjoy your time there...
and thanks jay for all you do and share.
all the best,
smokey
damn, you tell the best stories about pool i have ever read
not just now, but many times before both here on azb and also pool wars
i don't really know you tho we have met, but i truly admire you. your knowledge is limitless and your ability at expression is a joy for any reader... thanks for all the wonderful stories.
that said, i would only ask how are your daughter and girlfriend doing?
i hope very well and you are satisfied and a happy dad!
enjoy your time there...
and thanks jay for all you do and share.
all the best,
smokey
I got in four days ago and spent the first few days with my GF and my daughter. Yesterday I got the itch to play and I'm in pretty good stroke after a 2 month diet of Dennis O., Carlo B., Warren K. and Manny Chau. I've been chewed up, beaten down and run over by four of the best. Bottom line they got me playing some pretty fair country pool right now.
I know the pool rooms pretty well in this neck of the woods and Harrison Plaza has a room that is hopping in the day time. One Side doesn't even begin to roll until late at night. I take my sweet girl with me over to Harrison and sure enough the room is still there after not having been there in 2 years. The only change is three ping pong tables in front replacing a couple of pool tables. The place is fairly full at 2 PM with a couple of money games in progress. No matter, several "hustlers" greet me and ask if I'm looking for a game. I get into my game mode and begin the back and forth chatter that is so much fun for me. They know Americans like 9-Ball and One Pocket, but no one will play the latter and everyone wants to play the former :wink:.
One guy even remembers me playing Bank Pool in there a couple of years before and he calls me Mr. Bank Pool. I ask him if he wants to play Banks and he shakes his head no. No one else will accept my offer to play Bank Pool and the guy says no one plays that game here. They are all asking me to play 9-Ball, Ten Ball or Eight Ball. I tell them that since I'm in the Philippines I will play some Rotation. They love that answer, hooting and hollering! Did I tell you how much I love these poolrooms! This story is going to get good so hang on.
I finally make a game with an older guy whose name I never asked. We play Rotation for 500P a game, about $12. We go back and forth and he finally wins 1000P and I quit. He plays GOOD! And I don't know these tables like he does. That's a big advantage! I want to get the feel of the table so after more haggling I agree to play a Race To Nine 9-Ball for 2000P. It will give me a chance to play and get the feel of the table and the bet is not too big. By now a nice crowd has gathered to watch and sweat the game, maybe 30 or 40 guys all around us. I LOVE this atmosphere! These guys will applaud your good shots and hoot and holler if you do something cool. I feel confident even though I know I'm the underdog. I love my Bautista cue and I'm hitting the balls good. I feel like I can make anything. It's moving the cue ball that's still a problem.
He wins the first three games but I'm okay, still hanging in there. I know we have a long way to go. I come on strong, running out a few times and take the lead finally at 6-5. Now I play my best pool of the day and get to the hill at 8-5. This guy is good under pressure and makes a very nice run out. In my heart I know he is the better player here but I still want to win. The next game he misses a long eight ball and leaves me on the end rail. The eight is close to the far corner pocket and the nine is down at my end. I level on the eight and just fire it in sending the cue ball three rails back down table. I hit it good but the cue ball scratches three rails in the corner.
Now it's 8-7 and he's breaking. I feel like it may well go hill-hill and I really don't want that. I get a shot on the five ball, thanks to his failed safety. After the five everything else is tough. I must move the cue up and down table and in close quarters. I make the six and get on the seven good. The eight is on the rail by the side pocket, the worst possible place to be. I manage to get on the eight, but it's a long shot up in the corner and I need to draw back a foot or two for the nine. I know I must make my best shot of the match right now. I take a deep breath and level on the ball. I feel okay and I think about Earl when he said "I just want to give it a legitimate effort." And I do, firing the eight cleanly down the rail and bringing the cue ball back for the nine! OMG I did it! The crowd really lets out a lot of noise on this shot and I feel like a 25 year old young gun again. Once again I'm a hungry young player trying to get the money. I have a half table cut on the nine. This shot could be dogged but I feel good when I get down, JUST MAKE THE BALL I'm thinking. I fire it in and almost fall to the floor. The underdog has pulled off an upset. I take my cue apart. I'm done for the day, worn out after about three hours of play. Many guys are talking to me now, telling me I play good 9-Ball and stuff like that. Reminds me of another time so long long ago.
Some guy tells me that Dennis is playing Bong in another pool room a few miles away. Bong is an up and coming champion here, a wisp of a man, similar in size to Nick Varner. But a brilliant money player who challenges all the top players over here. We say our good byes and go outside to catch a taxi. Traffic is brutal at 5:30 in the afternoon. It takes 15-20 minutes to get a cab. He explains that the traffic is too heavy to get us where we want to go but he will get us close and we can take a trike (3 wheel motorbike) from there. 45 minutes later we are in the vicinity and he drops us off. Thank God for my GF. She does all the communicating for us. The trike driver goes down the wrong side of the road to avoid all the traffic and after a wild ride we are at the mall where the game is supposed to be taking place. We wander around inside, asking people where the billiards is. No one seems to know until a security guard tells us we must go to the next building over. This is very typical of Manila, bad directions or no directions at all. We walk a long way and finally we are in the right building. Now we get directed to the billiards and I can see the crowd upstairs from a long distance away. They are lining a balcony and I know this is it.
I fight my way thru the crowd so I can see my buddy Dennis. Except he's not there! I see only Bong and Jeff de Luna. Jeff gives me a big smile and I ask him where is Dennis. He tells me that he is playing Bong, not Dennis. It's a Race to 20, Ten Ball for 66,000P (about $1,500). A very big game over here. The place is absolutely packed but people make room for me and my GF. An American with a cue over there is obviously someone important!The score is 12-5 in favor of Jeff but they are not playing. It's between games and a round of betting is going on. Jeff must wait until all bets are made on the next game before he breaks. It's an amazing scenario, unlike anything you will ever see in a poolroom in the USA (or anywhere else for that matter). Several guys are walking around hawking bets on both players with a new line for that game. It resembles a cock fight arena, with all the hand signals and hollering back and forth. In fact they even call it a Pool "fight", not a pool game. When all the bets are made Jeff can finally break the balls. I'm guessing tens of thousands have been bet on this one game alone. Jeff says to me this is how they gamble here. I'm simply astonished by what I see and ask my GF to record one of these sessions between games. I will try to post it later on here. How Jeff can play after all this is also amazing to me. He gets up there and unloads that explosive break (one of the hardest in the game), makes a ball and runs out! It's a small poolroom with only five tables, but they look to be in great shape with good lighting. I can see why they chose this place to play.
We watch several games and I'm happy just to be a witness to this. It's so damn cool to see how they really GAMBLE over here. Some guy comes in who had seen me play earlier at Harrison Plaza. He tells a few people about watching me play and I get a little respect and acknowledgment. Cool with me. We stay until the score is 16-7 Jeff and I'm ready to bail. It's been a long day and I'm tired. An hour later we are back in our hotel and I crash!
Based on this response, you must change cues an awe full lot? Its hard enough getting used to just one cue let alone two! It is safe to assume the Bautista very closely matches your cue back in the states? If you had to pick ONE cue would it be the Bautista or your cue back home in the states? What do you play with here in the good ole USA?
I visited the Phillippines 3 times and experienced the heat and outside tables! Air conditioning is EXPENSIVE there and they rarely use it! cloth conditions and table speed change from day to day! They adjust so well to it! Here we have more uniform conditions!
Sticks do not do well with the heat and humidity! I grabbed my cue and the finish and wrap felt aweful after an hour or two of play in Manilla. Do you use wrapless, leather or irish linen work better for the hot and humid conditions you face? Again, I visit Manilla often and looking for advise for my next visit. My cue and shafts felt like a wet noodle after some time playing mid day with no air conditioning! I noticed the cues there had NO FINISH on the shafts! It seemed to help? Your thoughts on the subject?
KD
:wink:
I played with a Josey cue for about 15 years but have now switched to a much lighter De Vinci cue. The Bautista cue is more like my Josey but I love the balance and the hit. It's not really hard to play with two different cues if you're in decent stroke/form. I have about 6-8 cues on my wall rack at home that all play good. Visiting players can always find a cue they like there. Sometimes they want to keep one for themselves :wink:. Carlo started playing with a plain Padgett cue I had and he didn't want to give it up when the time came for him to leave.
The Bautista has a linen wrap which seems to handle the heat just fine. It never feels wet to me, although I do need to use powder on the shaft and butt from time to time under humid conditions. If my shaft feels sticky, a quick swipe with my little scotch-brite pad and its fine again. I always carry the scotch-brite and my tip tool everywhere I go in the PI. Old habits die hard.
I played with a Josey cue for about 15 years but have now switched to a much lighter De Vinci cue. The Bautista cue is more like my Josey but I love the balance and the hit. It's not really hard to play with two different cues if you're in decent stroke/form. I have about 6-8 cues on my wall rack at home that all play good. Visiting players can always find a cue they like there. Sometimes they want to keep one for themselves :wink:. Carlo started playing with a plain Padgett cue I had and he didn't want to give it up when the time came for him to leave.
The Bautista has a linen wrap which seems to handle the heat just fine. It never feels wet to me, although I do need to use powder on the shaft and butt from time to time under humid conditions. If my shaft feels sticky, a quick swipe with my little scotch-brite pad and its fine again. I always carry the scotch-brite and my tip tool everywhere I go in the PI. Old habits die hard
.
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On the rack I have my Josey, a solid black OB cue, a plain cocobola Samsara, paduch Padgett, an old maple Corsair (the best cue there!), a cue made for Dennis by a guy out of Chicago whose name escapes me at the moment (Jerry ?) and an old cue that may actually be a Balabuska butt with a newer Gilbert shaft. The last one I've never had authenticated since I have no interest in selling it and the original shafts are long gone.
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Got many a San Miguel down, never could get a balut down!!!!
just to add on this Jay, the forearm and butt sleeves is an Amboyna burl, with an Old growth shaft made by "Tony Bautista" fyi, there too many Bautista here in the PH
:wink:
I played with a Josey cue for about 15 years but have now switched to a much lighter De Vinci cue. The Bautista cue is more like my Josey but I love the balance and the hit. It's not really hard to play with two different cues if you're in decent stroke/form. I have about 6-8 cues on my wall rack at home that all play good. Visiting players can always find a cue they like there. Sometimes they want to keep one for themselves :wink:. Carlo started playing with a plain Padgett cue I had and he didn't want to give it up when the time came for him to leave.
The Bautista has a linen wrap which seems to handle the heat just fine. It never feels wet to me, although I do need to use powder on the shaft and butt from time to time under humid conditions. If my shaft feels sticky, a quick swipe with my little scotch-brite pad and its fine again. I always carry the scotch-brite and my tip tool everywhere I go in the PI. Old habits die hard
Jay
you seem to know what always to bring with you at all times
but a scotch brite pad? hmm why dont i have that in my cue case hahaha.its been a long time since i have played with you Jay, if you're in Manila, just ring me, glad to play with you, but never one pocket or banks hahahaha.
Go to Hermes Sports Bar
see you around Jay
Joyren
:wink:
I played with a Josey cue for about 15 years but have now switched to a much lighter De Vinci cue. The Bautista cue is more like my Josey but I love the balance and the hit. It's not really hard to play with two different cues if you're in decent stroke/form. I have about 6-8 cues on my wall rack at home that all play good. Visiting players can always find a cue they like there. Sometimes they want to keep one for themselves :wink:. Carlo started playing with a plain Padgett cue I had and he didn't want to give it up when the time came for him to leave.
The Bautista has a linen wrap which seems to handle the heat just fine. It never feels wet to me, although I do need to use powder on the shaft and butt from time to time under humid conditions. If my shaft feels sticky, a quick swipe with my little scotch-brite pad and its fine again. I always carry the scotch-brite and my tip tool everywhere I go in the PI. Old habits die hard
that Josey cue you played all those years with, plays very nice.
I agree its a pain in the ass to carry a cue in luggage, that was a good move to keep a cue there. Something you can adjust to in a day or 2 and your set!!! Thats exactly what I would do.
I have played in rooms that are 90 degrees with no fan's, brutal. After you get used to them, playing in good conditions my game jumps up a ball-or it feels like it does anyways.
Latest update gang - A typhoon blew into the Philippines four days ago and I finally got a chance to experience a real monsoon in Manila. Let me tell you it ain't no fun. Four days (maybe five now) of constant rainfall, falling in sheets of rain. Constant winds of 60-80 mph and gusts up to 100. The streets in 75% of Manila are flooded. In the local weather reports, they say this area has water up to your knees, another area it's up to your waist, still another is thigh deep and the worst hit are chest high and some head high! I walked around yesterday in water above my knees. I bought rubber Nike shoes with good protective soles. If you have an open cut and get it wet you are risking severe infection. Many streets are simply impassable. It's still raining this morning and I'm confined once again to my hotel. This internet cafe next door was shut down the last two days.
Nevertheless I made it to One Side two nights ago. It's only a few blocks from my hotel. A pedicab (bicycle driven trike) driver took me there, peddling through water almost seat high. I propped my feet up and held my cue above the water! I walk in and who do I see first, but the dreaded Lulong, the house hustler of One Side and my nemesis several times before. I never seem to be ready when I encounter him. This time I know I'm ready! Immediately he is on me to play - "What do you want to play, One Pocket or Bank Pool," he asks me. I tell him I will play him Banks for 500p a game. He wants to play a Race to Five for 3000p like last time. I tell him no, only by the game. He wants to play for 1000p a game and I don't feel comfortable yet, having not hit a ball here in months. I know he plays here every day. I tell him I want 30 minutes to warm up.
After maybe 20 minutes of hitting balls I feel ready. Now he agrees to play for 500p a game but stipulates the loser must pay the time (he's so confident he will win). This can be expensive here at 300p an hour. I say okay. We play two games and I run three to open the first game and eventually win 5-2. In the second game he has me 4-2 and I run three and out to steal that game. He quits! I've finally beaten this guy. The money is small satisfaction compared to getting him to quit and stop all his hustler talk.
The next night his buddy calls me to make another game with Lulong. He wants to play One Pocket. I tell him I will come and we can play for 1000p a game. When I get there he is already in action, playing Ten Ball with some young Chinese kid. They are playing a Race To 12 for 10,000p (5,000 each). I watch as Lulong loses 12-10 to this kid who plays very good! Just one more little monster coming over from Taiwan. They're endless! He looks to be a teenager and makes all the balls and just keeps running out open racks. Lulong doesn't even look my way as he agrees to play a second set. I can see he's going off to this kid and at 2-0 I head back to my hotel. No game tonight, other than a practice session (for the time) with a handsome young Iranian guy, who is attending dental school here. We play a Race to Seven and I get to play some 9-Ball. I feel good and loose, and win 7-3. I'm making balls too and running out most racks. I know I can't play Lulong even though. His little friend tells me that Lulong will give me the five ball in Ten Ball. BRING IT ON is what I'm thinking!
Nevertheless I made it to One Side two nights ago. It's only a few blocks from my hotel. A pedicab (bicycle driven trike) driver took me there, peddling through water almost seat high. I propped my feet up and held my cue above the water! I walk in and who do I see first, but the dreaded Lulong, the house hustler of One Side and my nemesis several times before. I never seem to be ready when I encounter him. This time I know I'm ready! Immediately he is on me to play - "What do you want to play, One Pocket or Bank Pool," he asks me. I tell him I will play him Banks for 500p a game. He wants to play a Race to Five for 3000p like last time. I tell him no, only by the game. He wants to play for 1000p a game and I don't feel comfortable yet, having not hit a ball here in months. I know he plays here every day. I tell him I want 30 minutes to warm up.
After maybe 20 minutes of hitting balls I feel ready. Now he agrees to play for 500p a game but stipulates the loser must pay the time (he's so confident he will win). This can be expensive here at 300p an hour. I say okay. We play two games and I run three to open the first game and eventually win 5-2. In the second game he has me 4-2 and I run three and out to steal that game. He quits! I've finally beaten this guy. The money is small satisfaction compared to getting him to quit and stop all his hustler talk.
The next night his buddy calls me to make another game with Lulong. He wants to play One Pocket. I tell him I will come and we can play for 1000p a game. When I get there he is already in action, playing Ten Ball with some young Chinese kid. They are playing a Race To 12 for 10,000p (5,000 each). I watch as Lulong loses 12-10 to this kid who plays very good! Just one more little monster coming over from Taiwan. They're endless! He looks to be a teenager and makes all the balls and just keeps running out open racks. Lulong doesn't even look my way as he agrees to play a second set. I can see he's going off to this kid and at 2-0 I head back to my hotel. No game tonight, other than a practice session (for the time) with a handsome young Iranian guy, who is attending dental school here. We play a Race to Seven and I get to play some 9-Ball. I feel good and loose, and win 7-3. I'm making balls too and running out most racks. I know I can't play Lulong even though. His little friend tells me that Lulong will give me the five ball in Ten Ball. BRING IT ON is what I'm thinking!
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stay safe guys
inside the University of Santo Tomas campus, the oldest university in the Philippines
inside the University of Santo Tomas campus, the oldest university in the Philippines
lol that's hilarious! jetskiin in the streets of manila! lol
UST that's my old campus!! I studied there for a year before moving across the pacific
UST that's my old campus!! I studied there for a year before moving across the pacific
stay safe guys
inside the University of Santo Tomas campus, the oldest university in the Philippines