Efren on CNN

" You have start young. And you really have to keep playing.
I used to win a lot. Maybe they ( the younger players now ) will win too.
The secret to this game is to not think you're already good.
Even if you're that good already, you still need to practice a lot.
You have to learn all the shots. "
Title break at .36 seconds
" I was only 5 when my father took me to Manila.
We stayed there. We stayed in a pool hall.
I couldn't reach the table for 3 years. After 3 years, I started playing.
When we got to Manila, I had fun because of the pool hall. But, my dad was really a barber. Cutting hair as a barber is better. ( Efren then giggles ).
Early morning then was great. Before I went to school and the pool hall was empty, I practiced. I was the only one at the pool hall. My school started at 7 am. I played starting at 5 am. I played for about 30 minutes then went to school. After school, I played after everyone left the pool room at night . I played by myself then I slept right there . ON TOP OF THE TABLE. The name of the place at Sta Cruz, Avenida was Lucky 13. That's where I became good at playing . And that's where I started hustling. Nobody knew someone could play there. There were so many visitors but none of them knew I was good.
I started playing at 8 years old. The reason I played was there was nowhere else for me to go or play except pool. And I saw there players who won got paid . So I had to play so I'd get money too if I won. I was in the first grade at 8 years old when I started playing. I became really good at pool at 12 years old. I was really good by then. I was already matching up and hustling wherever . When I reached first year high school, I went to school at 6 to 7 am. By, 3 PM my managers waited outside of my school to pick me up. We traveled to several places to match up. We'd be out till early in the morning. They would then take me to school around 6 am because my school starts at 7. I had no sleep. I slept in school . My parents did not know I was sleeping in school. They didn't know I was playing in other towns because I didn't go home anymore. They ( the backers ) picked me up from school in the afternoon. We'd go to different places. Those were all-nighters. No sleeping. "
Break at 3:28

Will do some more when time permits .
 
Last edited:
JoeyInCali said:
" You have start young. And you really have to keep playing.
I used to win a lot. Maybe they ( the younger players now ) will win too.
The secret to this game is to not think you're already good.
Even if you're that good already, you still need to practice a lot.
You have to learn all the shots. "
Title break at .36 seconds
" I was only 5 when my father took me to Manila.
We stayed there. We stayed in a pool hall.
I couldn't reach the table for 3 years. After 3 years, I started playing.
When we got to Manila, I had fun because of the pool hall. But, my dad was really a barber. Cutting hair as a barber is better. ( Efren then giggles ).
Early morning then was great. Before I went to school and the pool hall was empty, I practiced. I was the only one at the pool hall. My school started at 7 pm. I played starting at 5 am. I played for about 30 minutes then went to school. After school, I played after everyone left the pool room at night . I played by myself then I slept right there . ON TOP OF THE TABLE. The name of the place at Sta Cruz, Avenida was Lucky 13. That's where I became good at playing . And that's where I started hustling. Nobody knew someone could play there. There were so many visitors but none of them knew I was good.
I started playing at 8 years old. The reason I played was there was nowhere else for me to go or play except pool. And I saw there players who won got paid . So I had to play so I'd get money too if I won. I was in the first grade at 8 years old when I started playing. I became really good at pool at 12 years old. I was really good by then. I was already matching up and hustling wherever . When I reached first year high school, I went to school at 6 to 7 am. By, 3 PM my managers waited outside of my school to pick me up. We traveled to several places to match up. We'd be out till early in the morning. They would then take me to school around 6 am because my school starts at 7. I had no sleep. I slept in school . My parents did not know I was sleeping in school. They didn't know I was playing in other towns because I didn't go home anymore. They ( the backers ) picked me up from school in the afternoon. We'd go to different places. Those were all-nighters. No sleeping. "
Break at 3:28

Will do some more when time permits .
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link LocalArtist, and thanks for the help with the translation Joey. It makes me wonder if Efren's parents are still with us and if so what they think of having a part in the life of the GOAT?
 
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