Iris Ranola can shoot!

StevenPWaldon

StevenPWaldon

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I went to Broadway Billiards last night, and bumped into a pool friend named Noel. His introduced me to his niece, Iris. Iris is a Filipina lady, and Noel wanted us to spar a bit. I had no idea of what her speed was, but my friend Mike had watched her, and tells me she makes mistakes. He was wrong.

We start the first set and she nails me 7-1! Ouch! Ok, time to really focus. The next set is neck-and-neck the entire way... until at hill-hill I jaw a bank on the 1-ball and she runs out for the win.

I start talking to her and she's indeed the one and only Iris Ranola. She had just come from her first US Pro WPBA event, the BCA Generation Pool Tournament. She had notable wins over Val Finnie, Julie Kelly, Jennifer Chen, and lost a hill-hill nail biter against Jasmin to finish in the top 16. This is following her 1st place finish at the BCA in the Womens Masters Singles Division.

She shoots real strong, and plays a very aggressive game. In the two sets we played, she got out of line all of two times, but still managed to run out. I was happy to have gotten to the hill with her the second set.


She moved to the US this year and is living in the Detroit area, currently doing the WPBA qualifiers to make a name for herself. She's got a real strong break, and runs out. For all of you following the WPBA, keep an eye out for this woman.
 
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I got to watch many of her matches in Vegas for the BCA. Dominated some girls that were playing unbelievable pool. The finals of the Masters Division took a super long time though.
 
StevenPWaldon said:
I went to Broadway Billiards last night, and bumped into a pool friend named Noel. His introduced me to his niece, Iris. Iris is a Filipina lady, and Noel wanted us to spar a bit. I had no idea of what her speed was, but my friend Mike had watched her, and tells me she makes mistakes. He was wrong.

We start the first set and she nails me 7-1! Ouch! Ok, time to really focus. The next set is neck-and-neck the entire way... until at hill-hill I jaw a bank on the 1-ball and she runs out for the win.

I start talking to her and she's indeed the one and only Iris Ranola. She had just come from her first US Pro WPBA event, the BCA Generation Pool Tournament. She had notable wins over Val Finnie, Julie Kelly, Jennifer Chen, and lost a hill-hill nail biter against Jasmin to finish in the top 16. This is following her 1st place finish at the BCA in the Womens Masters Singles Division.

She shoots real strong, and plays a very aggressive game. In the two sets we played, she got out of line all of two times, but still managed to run out. I was happy to have gotten to the hill with her the second set.


She moved to the US this year and is living in the Detroit area, currently doing the WPBA qualifiers to make a name for herself. She's got a real strong break, and runs out. For all of you following the WPBA, keep an eye out for this woman.
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Thanks for the info Steven. From all reports I have from people that know her or have played her she plays very well. Your game is not too shabby either taking her hill/hill. Johnnyt
 
stuckart said:
I got to watch many of her matches in Vegas for the BCA. Dominated some girls that were playing unbelievable pool. The finals of the Masters Division took a super long time though.
Click to expand...

That Masters win was a real defensive thriller with Kyu (Esther) Yi taking second in that marathon match.
 
I got to see a couple of her matches in Charlotte at the Generationpool event. The girl can shoot!
Steve
 
Sunnyday knows Iris.

What Sunnyday said about Iris in another thread.

First and formost, she is one of the nicest and sweetest person I met. Most girls come off as "catty", especially a new blood in a qualifier arena... She was warm, funny and very friendly and soon I had found out that she flew in from Philipines, staying at her sister's house in IL and took a train ride - by herself!!! to the qualifer at Galesburg, IL. That was some determination. In a foreign contry running around by herself and chasing your dream I was genuinely happy for her that she had won the qualifier and there will be more of Iris you will get to see and hear.

She's learn to play pool in Philipines, with all the heros... I mean the heros in the likes of Efren, Busty and Alex...(I am so jealous! ) However, she tells me in Philipines there are not many female pro players since they don't have a women's tour. She'll travel in and out of US, but hasn't moved here.

I will let her know there are fans of her already.

S.
 
Here's a couple of pictures, friends!

IrisRanola.jpg



and


PhilippineTeam.jpg


(Iris with members of the Philippine Billiards Team with
their coach, Boyet Asonto. Iris is the 1st one from the right.)

:)
 
she was the 2nd top female player from the P.I. next to Amit. watched them play pool with the taiwanese women team 5 years ago or so, when they were in the amateur ranks but already played damn good, except for some nerves. she used to be thin, much thinner than Rubilen I think.
 
Here is a photo taken by my wife during her recent visit to Taiwan for the Amway World tournament.

Is the player on the left Iris???
 

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Williebetmore said:
Here is a photo taken by my wife during her recent visit to Taiwan for the Amway World tournament.

Is the player on the left Iris???
Click to expand...

Hey Willie- No that is the same girl who is in the ANitokid pic above Im pretty sure. She is on the left there too.
 
Mary Ann Basas, Jeanette Lee and Amit Rubilen.

Williebetmore said:
Here is a photo taken by my wife during her recent visit to Taiwan for the Amway World tournament.

Is the player on the left Iris???
Click to expand...
 
The girl on the left is Mary Ann Basas.

Philippines top three girls:
1. Rubilen Amit
2. Iris Ranola
3. Mary Ann Basas

I went to the Philippines with Alex January 2005 and Busti set me up playing a girl race to 5 for $10. I was down for it...gave me something to do while Alex was playing Luat. This girl was older, can't remember her name, played like C, if anything. I was playing with Busti's cue...he even told me to hold up...and I couldn't play seriously at all in a race to 5 for $10!!!!! So I end up 1 set down...but she proceeds to get on her phone and call someone to play me....she said she could tell I played a lot better so she would get me real competition and shes taking the win.

Okay...nowI'm looking at Busti like "help" what's going on??? He said don't worry, jut play, you're on vacation anyway. Who walks in...Mary Ann. The girls proceed to tell me that her name was Ann and that I need to give her weight. I pretend like I don't know her...and that I'm scared to play someone I don't know. She getting a little antsy thinking that they could take me for some good money....and brushes off all conversation and says ok we can play even. I'm like cool!!!! I played pretty sporty then...and I loved the challenge.....plus I hated the fact that they were trying to rob me.

We agree to races to 7(or 5 can't remember) for $20. Right away I know she can play...she's strong like a man and a good shot maker. Her draw and follow shots were just incredibly strong. But I think she was trying too hard or trying to show too much...cause she lost 2 sets to me then noone wanted to back her anymore.

Then later Alex told me that I gotta play Iris cause she was a better player and that we'd match up well. It never happened, I was only there for 2 weeks and got to the hall a handful of time...plus I was pregnant with #2 child. Alex said that Rubilen would be tought to beat period...like she was way stronger of a player than the other two.

But, I am glad to see one of the three girls trying to get out there and do it...I am not suprised by all the good results that Iris has had. Alex never lies about how good people play.
 
Phoebe,
Thanks for sharing your experience in PI and the games that you played there with the girls/women. You still got game. You were a hit on the West Coast in the WPBA at San Diego Viejas.

It seems that women's Pool in PI is very organized in contrast to free lancing here in the US - good for them.

We all here in the US would like to see Amit and Mary Ann join Iris in competition. I hope that the network for the PI women becomes stronger and will draw and support them as with the men.

What is happening in Asian Pool is very exciting, but I dread that the money will be a big draw there and Asia will become the center for competition and action. I will have to start watching the streaming videos from there in the future.

How is Brian? I used to watch him and Al practice at the Gardena Bowl back in the late 60's.

Adios.
 
I'll keep an eye out for Iris. Those that have gone on to be top ranked players on the WPBA have dominated the regional tour events beyond description. In recent years, Ga Young Kim, Kelly Fisher, and Jasmin Ouschan were near unbeatable when WPBA qualifying spots were up for grabs.

Wishing Iris success in her pro career. It sounds like she has a bright future.
 
I was with Ming Ng last week and she told me she had played Iris recently on the Tiger Tour. Ming lost her first match with her but beat her on the loser's side (Ming won the tourney). She said Iris plays real good, but wouldn't gamble with her. Ming has always been tough action, and don't worry, she can still play.
 
And they're very disciplined too. Never missed practice sessions and all
with their coach, Boyet Asonto.

Rubilen, Iris and Mary Ann used to do their training at Game Ball in Taft Avenue, and at the AMF-Superbowl, Makati Cinema Square, Mondays-Fridays.

.

LAMas said:
Phoebe,
Thanks for sharing your experience in PI and the games that you played there with the girls/women. You still got game. You were a hit on the West Coast in the WPBA at San Diego Viejas.

It seems that women's Pool in PI is very organized in contrast to free lancing here in the US - good for them.

We all here in the US would like to see Amit and Mary Ann join Iris in competition. I hope that the network for the PI women becomes stronger and will draw and support them as with the men.

What is happening in Asian Pool is very exciting, but I dread that the money will be a big draw there and Asia will become the center for competition and action. I will have to start watching the streaming videos from there in the future.

How is Brian? I used to watch him and Al practice at the Gardena Bowl back in the late 60's.

Adios.
Click to expand...
 
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