I just got back from the DCC. I made it a point to watch all of the matches Reyes played. As the week ensued you could tell he was getting tired and he was missing more often. His final 9-ball match against Dennis Orcollo was tough to watch. The "Magician" had a look of resignation in his eyes. Absolutely broke my heart. The energy and concentration needed to compete against the best in the world has forever taken leave from the greatest of all-time. Father time spares no one,not even the magnificent "Bata".
Even the great Bata
- Thread starter johnvol
- Start date
Great first post. He did win the one pocket but what does that mean?
Guess it means that one pocket doesn't take any energy or concentration
As expected. Fat's usually went home to rest/recoup after a few weeks of play.
Yeah, one-pocket is the easiest of all the events. It's not like you have to think or anything. Since Efren has been focusing primarily on playing 9-ball, darts and naked co-ed touch football these days. it is surprising that his decrepit carcass could even power itself enough to walk in the door at the DCC. And certainly last night when he was ripping apart One-Pocket Rich at Hard times from 8pm to midnight, he got lucky mostly.... One Pocket is known for being largely a slop game with no need for strategy or ability.
So if anyone that believes the comic exaggeration I just laid down about Efren or One Pocket, please come see me any day you like at Corner Pocket Billiards in Largo, Florida and bring LOTS of money. I really wanna say hello to you and maybe knock the balls around a little bit just for fun, for cheap.... no worries. We will be friends.
Lesh
So if anyone that believes the comic exaggeration I just laid down about Efren or One Pocket, please come see me any day you like at Corner Pocket Billiards in Largo, Florida and bring LOTS of money. I really wanna say hello to you and maybe knock the balls around a little bit just for fun, for cheap.... no worries. We will be friends.
Lesh
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you got it son. hahaha
No doubt, age takes its toll. The joints creak, the eyes don't re-focus as fast and the muscles are just a 1mm off in the hand/eye department. Everything takes 30% more energy than it used to.
But talent, experience and heart can make up for the ravages of age -- and Efren's got tons of those.
IMHO Efren knows he's not going to win the rotation tournaments anymore. So he takes the logical route of saving his energy for his one-pocket matches.
But talent, experience and heart can make up for the ravages of age -- and Efren's got tons of those.
IMHO Efren knows he's not going to win the rotation tournaments anymore. So he takes the logical route of saving his energy for his one-pocket matches.
What???
Are there any American players of any age that can beat Efren at anything?? SVB in 9/10 Ball and Frost in One Pocket..., that's the whole list, the rest of these country gets spotted by this old decrepit man. And who doesn't Dennis O make look bad, playing him is no fun for anybody.
Bata aint what he used to be, but I'd rather be him than anyone else!!
Are there any American players of any age that can beat Efren at anything?? SVB in 9/10 Ball and Frost in One Pocket..., that's the whole list, the rest of these country gets spotted by this old decrepit man. And who doesn't Dennis O make look bad, playing him is no fun for anybody.
Bata aint what he used to be, but I'd rather be him than anyone else!!
Where did Efren place in Master of the Table points?
Father time beats everybody sooner or later. Sad but true. I'm grateful that this is the age of youtube, so I can watch the modern masters at their peak.
Efren doesn't need to prove anything today. His record is clear. He has indeed "been there-done that".
Efren doesn't need to prove anything today. His record is clear. He has indeed "been there-done that".
Great first post. He did win the one pocket but what does that mean?
He got lucky
If the op thinks Efren is finished he should reach into his pocket and play him for some cash. Great opportunity to rob poor old Efren.
Bata!
I just got back from DCC; opened azb and came across this thread.
Efren may not have won the Dennis O. match, it may have been influenced by exhaustion from the almost constant play over the previous 9 days, but I was so impressed with his drive to keep winning. He knew that he had a chance to win the All Around, and he wanted to do his best to capture that honor. He was out on the tables between every round, practicing, and trying to stay sharp for the next opponent.
His match with Dennis started out well, but there are NO competitors in the final rounds of the DCC who will give you any chances, and Efren just made too many mistakes to win.
I for one am glad he was there, AND, IN CONTENTION, the DCC just isn't the same if he isn't there (like last year).
Thank you Efren; I'll see you next year at the GREATEST POOL TOURNAMET EVER PLAYED: THE DERBY CITY CLASSIC
Charlie
I just got back from DCC; opened azb and came across this thread.
Efren may not have won the Dennis O. match, it may have been influenced by exhaustion from the almost constant play over the previous 9 days, but I was so impressed with his drive to keep winning. He knew that he had a chance to win the All Around, and he wanted to do his best to capture that honor. He was out on the tables between every round, practicing, and trying to stay sharp for the next opponent.
His match with Dennis started out well, but there are NO competitors in the final rounds of the DCC who will give you any chances, and Efren just made too many mistakes to win.
I for one am glad he was there, AND, IN CONTENTION, the DCC just isn't the same if he isn't there (like last year).
Thank you Efren; I'll see you next year at the GREATEST POOL TOURNAMET EVER PLAYED: THE DERBY CITY CLASSIC
Charlie
I didn't get to see tons of Efren's play one the day I did get down to the Derby, but the one match I did see was pretty fantastic- He made some great shots and his speed control looked spot on. He made a few mistakes, nothing major, and pretty much dominated his opponent.
I would have liked to see a bit more evenly paired match, but even still his mastery of the game at this point in his career was obvious and indisputable.
I would have liked to see a bit more evenly paired match, but even still his mastery of the game at this point in his career was obvious and indisputable.
Father Time
I was not at t DCC. But prior to that tournament were all the top guns are.
Efren played Earl a tough 3 day match and then I believe played Bustamante in NJ.
Then had to fly to the DCC. And play against the best day in day out.
Not easy.
He is still competing and showing up which is a gift to us all.
MCP.
I was not at t DCC. But prior to that tournament were all the top guns are.
Efren played Earl a tough 3 day match and then I believe played Bustamante in NJ.
Then had to fly to the DCC. And play against the best day in day out.
Not easy.
He is still competing and showing up which is a gift to us all.
MCP.
sure one-pocket is the most skill demanding game, but it's also a game where you can rely on three cushion knowledge, balls hopefully hanging up if missed, etc. and every second shot, most of the time, you get to rest and pause, whereas in the two rotation games you have to be totally focused making nine or ten balls in a row. theres a good reason for why many older players prefer one-pocket.
The OP's taking some heat for a well-intentioned post IMHO. I don't think he (maybe she) was intending to disparage Efren's accomplishment in the first two events, but to the convey the sadness/regret of seeing Efren run out of steam at the end of the third event. Considering Efren was in contention in all 3 events, it's plausible that he was running out of "fight" by the end.
.......................
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Shown in order as they placed in Banks, One-Pocket, and 9-Ball (T means "tied for"):
1st ($20,000) -- Orcollo: 1, T4, T4
2nd ($3,000) -- Van Boening: T11, T8, 1
3rd ($2,000) -- Reyes: T25, 1, T6
4th ($0) -- Bustamante: 2, T4, T21
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I would say Efren peaked exactly when he wanted, in the one-pocket. He was in action in California, then played Earl at Steinway, then played all events at DCC. At his age, that's pretty good. I guess you could expect him to 'run out of gas' at some point.
IMO, he's the best player of his generation, and it's not close.
IMO, he's the best player of his generation, and it's not close.