Jay Just Called...

[Fatboy]

He is in the PI for one more week, he is having the time of his life, He said there is a ton of action there, he said any champion from America could go there and play a different guy everyday for a month straight, they arnt afraid of any of us. He told everyone here hello, man he was happy. Made me feel good-I needed something to get me up I was house bound today, I hope I wont be tomarrow.

 

[Fast Lenny]

They say in Manila there are over 50 guys who play Santos Sambajons speed there,thats scary.

 

[John Barton]

I saw Jay there at the event but missed him at One Side.

There is a ton of action for sure. I was there for two days and didn't sleep at all. I felt like I was there a week.

We went to a bar full of girls - the rental kind - that had two nine footers. The deal was when you played the loser paid P25 table time or about 50cts. Some folks gambled a little. Wu showed up for a while and played around with some Chinese tourists.

Anyway, the thing is that just about every guy who came off the stool, who looked like they couldn't run three balls, were APA 6 or better.

This had to be the only bar in the world where every player there to have a good time - not to gamble - could actually play some.

I got beat by a very likeable fellow who would (thank God) "only" play for P100 and I ran six and he ran out finishing with a table length bank shot.

So even in the pick up bars there is plenty of light but not easy action.

I was there for two days and it felt like I had spent a week.

At One Side I asked if anyone wanted to play One Pocket. No one wanted to play so they asked around and a nice middle aged guy came over to play. We agreed to play for P500 a rack or about $11. I said my name is John what's yours. He said, "Warren", I said "as in Kiamco" he said yes.

So I donated $33 to Kiamco's wallet and then he asked me very politely if it was allright if he quit to play Efren. I said no. Just kidding.

Then I got to sweat Efren playing Warren a race to 30 I think it was for P10,000 or about $240. I was told on other nights there were games for P500,000 or about $12,000. That there were three such games going on on three seperate tables.

I got the feeling that anyone in the world could get heads up action with any of them. However they weren't as generous with the spots as I had heard. Very cautious about giving up too much to strangers.

When I got there Ronnie Wiseman was in a game with some local. At least I didn't recognize who it was for about $800 - a race to 16 and Ronnie was losing 14 to 6. I think he made a late charge. He said something about it being impossible to win from there and I said well you might not WANT to win from the position you're in. Alex was matched up on another table.

It was really fantastic.

Jay, being much more experienced than I am, is probably having an even better time. I can only have a better time next time when I know where to go and where not to.

I did go to several local poolrooms though and had a blast playing locals.

 

[Fast Lenny]

I saw Jay there at the event but missed him at One Side.

There is a ton of action for sure. I was there for two days and didn't sleep at all. I felt like I was there a week.

We went to a bar full of girls - the rental kind - that had two nine footers. The deal was when you played the loser paid P25 table time or about 50cts. Some folks gambled a little. Wu showed up for a while and played around with some Chinese tourists.

Anyway, the thing is that just about every guy who came off the stool, who looked like they couldn't run three balls, were APA 6 or better.

This had to be the only bar in the world where every player there to have a good time - not to gamble - could actually play some.

I got beat by a very likeable fellow who would (thank God) "only" play for P100 and I ran six and he ran out finishing with a table length bank shot.

So even in the pick up bars there is plenty of light but not easy action.

I was there for two days and it felt like I had spent a week.

At One Side I asked if anyone wanted to play One Pocket. No one wanted to play so they asked around and a nice middle aged guy came over to play. We agreed to play for P500 a rack or about $11. I said my name is John what's yours. He said, "Warren", I said "as in Kiamco" he said yes.

So I donated $33 to Kiamco's wallet and then he asked me very politely if it was allright if he quit to play Efren. I said no. Just kidding.

Then I got to sweat Efren playing Warren a race to 30 I think it was for P10,000 or about $240. I was told on other nights there were games for P500,000 or about $12,000. That there were three such games going on on three seperate tables.

I got the feeling that anyone in the world could get heads up action with any of them. However they weren't as generous with the spots as I had heard. Very cautious about giving up too much to strangers.

When I got there Ronnie Wiseman was in a game with some local. At least I didn't recognize who it was for about $800 - a race to 16 and Ronnie was losing 14 to 6. I think he made a late charge. He said something about it being impossible to win from there and I said well you might not WANT to win from the position you're in. Alex was matched up on another table.

It was really fantastic.

Jay, being much more experienced than I am, is probably having an even better time. I can only have a better time next time when I know where to go and where not to.

I did go to several local poolrooms though and had a blast playing locals.

Its nice to hear you had a good time there,i would like to travel to that part of the world one day.

 

[memikey]

All-aged and veteran 6-a-side amateur soccer teams from all over the world start arriving in Manila from tomorrow onwards for this coming weekend's annual Manila Sixes Soccer Tournament.

The "Abu Dhabi Nomads" have sent a fun seeking team from United Arab Emirates to this tourney every year for the last 8 years. Most of our squad of 20 guys are British expatriates living in the Middle East and we have a blast at soccer in the afternoons and pool/night clubs in the evening.

Alas I can't go this year as got married in Abu Dhabi 4 days ago and still have lots of family and visitors here with us. Will be there again next year though.

Manila is party town and a pool dream........anyone who gets the chance really must go at least once in their life

 

[Fast Lenny]

All-aged and veteran 6-a-side amateur soccer teams from all over the world start arriving in Manila from tomorrow onwards for this coming weekend's annual Manila Sixes Soccer Tournament.

The "Abu Dhabi Nomads" have sent a fun seeking team from United Arab Emirates to this tourney every year for the last 8 years. Most of our squad of 20 guys are British expatriates living in the Middle East and we have a blast at soccer in the afternoons and pool/night clubs in the evening.

Alas I can't go this year as got married in Abu Dhabi 4 days ago and still have lots of family and visitors here with us. Will be there again next year though.

Manila is party town and a pool dream........anyone who gets the chance really must go at least once in their life

Congrats!

 

[Johnnyt]

Seems to me that any US up and coming pool player that wants to get better and find out what level he is at needs to go there for a few months. Johnnyt

 

[I rack balls]

Seems to me that any US up and coming pool player that wants to get better and find out what level he is at needs to go there for a few months. Johnnyt

I might make a trip there for a few months

Eric.

 

[John Barton]

Seems to me that any US up and coming pool player that wants to get better and find out what level he is at needs to go there for a few months. Johnnyt

No doubt. I learned a few shots in the brief time I played that you almost never see in the States. How to cut a ball so softly and kill the cueball for example. How to go around the table and come in on the long rail to kill the cueball.

I watched guys do things that you never see watching Americans play. It's like a different game to them.

I also watched them miss easy shots too by throwing the object ball just a little too much when putting the superspin on the ball. But those misses were uncommon.

I think that there must be a lot of bangers in the Phillipines as well. There are surely a lot of places where I would be the best player. For a few minutes at least until they called someone from another pool room down the block.

 

[Blackjack]

Seems to me that any US up and coming pool player that wants to get better and find out what level he is at needs to go there for a few months. Johnnyt

This is so true. I went over there in 1992 and again in 1994 and 1999.

The first time I went over there I was like John Barton, not really knowing where to go - but I met up with a few local players that showed me around and eventually got me into some action with Edgar Acaba.

Everytime I have gone back over there, my game has improved from the quality of the players I matched up with. Going from the Philippines back to the US is like night and day.

It's a complete different scenario than over here in the US. Here, everybody wants some kind of outrageous weight. A lot of guys don't want to play anybody unless they can manipulate the spot until its a "sure thing" that they can win.

In the Philippines, guys will match up with you even all day long for short sets, long sets, cheap sets, expensive sets etc. Even when your making a game with someone, it always ends up to be a fair deal - that is unless you end up in the wrong place with wrong crowd. I've seen that side of the action in the Philippines also.

A trip over there is a great measuring stick for your talent, and its also a great learning experience. I'd recommend a visit to the Philippines to anybody that is serious about bringing their game to the next level.

 

[plague]

One Sided action

i arrived on wednesday to leave friday the next week, after my loss to Gomez in the last 64; a 3 inning-match; the 2nd i had to jump, the 3rd i resafed...he long-banked it,that was that.
i had the best bootcamp in One Side though. i have been matching up 10,20 and 30k sets for about 70 hours total. the money that i did win, was lost to Penha, Russian (pinoy) and a guy named Carlo, all around 26 years of age. And they certainly played jam up as posted before. I spar regularly with Niels Feijen, but in 6,7 hour sessions i have never gotten so few chances as with the pinoys. and it's not that they play a tight defensive game...they play ultra aggressive, max. spin. max. shotmaking
as Barton stated, the way they solve problems,clip balls, play shape using other balls...it was new to me. And always playing 10-ball...they broke the balls good! A lot comes from rotation:even though it is not played so much anymore, playing them rotation you recognise these type of shots that they use in 9- and 10-ball. as well as good kicking skills...and they just keep on coming!!
i beat one Dodong in rotation and then i felt i could take on russian in rotation: he ran the first two, i missed a 4-ball in the 3rd, he ran out, broke and ran out...he ran over me
the last night that i played, i was in a good game. what does that count for...1-1 in sets, double the bet race to 13, he ran the first 6!!i did get to 11-11, but in those last 20 minutes there was a lot of movement around my table just when i was shooting key-shots in a racklayer,backers,referee,railbirds in my line of shot or right behind me. i was unable to cope with that and when missing they started to laugh!! tough action, but i have learned a lot! i felt like leaving Vegas: happy to not have gone broke (after all the action a $200 loser)

 

[uwate]

plague=Alex Lely

Nice to have great players surfing AZB!

 

[Johnnyt]

plague=Alex Lely

Nice to have great players surfing AZB!

Yes it is. Don't forget Monday was Vets day for my check will be one day later . Johnnyt

 

[mosconiac]

Thanks uwate...I thought I would end up going to the results board to find out who lost to Roberto in the round of 64. LOL

Thanks for the stories guys. I've never been to the PI, but it sounds like pool mecca. You might want to brush up on the player pics on the 'net before going over there though...He said, "Warren", I said "as in Kiamco" he said yes. LOL

My Dad went over there on several occasions for business and he said its a definite culture shock.

 

[Matt90]

just curious

How long of a flight is it there ?I also take it our dollar is
go a little futher there than here . Sounds like a spiritual
journey for a pool player

 

[gopi-1]

i arrived on wednesday to leave friday the next week, after my loss to Gomez in the last 64; a 3 inning-match; the 2nd i had to jump, the 3rd i resafed...he long-banked it,that was that.
i had the best bootcamp in One Side though. i have been matching up 10,20 and 30k sets for about 70 hours total. the money that i did win, was lost to Penha, Russian (pinoy) and a guy named Carlo, all around 26 years of age. And they certainly played jam up as posted before. I spar regularly with Niels Feijen, but in 6,7 hour sessions i have never gotten so few chances as with the pinoys. and it's not that they play a tight defensive game...they play ultra aggressive, max. spin. max. shotmaking
as Barton stated, the way they solve problems,clip balls, play shape using other balls...it was new to me. And always playing 10-ball...they broke the balls good! A lot comes from rotation:even though it is not played so much anymore, playing them rotation you recognise these type of shots that they use in 9- and 10-ball. as well as good kicking skills...and they just keep on coming!!
i beat one Dodong in rotation and then i felt i could take on russian in rotation: he ran the first two, i missed a 4-ball in the 3rd, he ran out, broke and ran out...he ran over me
the last night that i played, i was in a good game. what does that count for...1-1 in sets, double the bet race to 13, he ran the first 6!!i did get to 11-11, but in those last 20 minutes there was a lot of movement around my table just when i was shooting key-shots in a racklayer,backers,referee,railbirds in my line of shot or right behind me. i was unable to cope with that and when missing they started to laugh!! tough action, but i have learned a lot! i felt like leaving Vegas: happy to not have gone broke (after all the action a $200 loser)

Thnx for the heads up Alex! The young guy you're talking about is Russian
(that's his real name!) Petiza and the other one is Carlo Biado. The Dodong
that you've been referring could be Dodong Didal, and not Leonardo
"Dodong" Andam. At least you had a good time over there and I'm sure
there's a lot of AZbers who's green with envy right now. I, for one will
gladly trade places with you...

 

[gopi-1]

How long of a flight is it there ?I also take it our dollar is
go a little futher there than here . Sounds like a spiritual
journey for a pool player

15 or 16 hours, non stop, depending on where you at. The dollar is on a all-
time low right now, 43 pesos to a buck, it used to be 55-56 pesos to a dollar
a year and a half ago. Just to give you how your dollar stretches there here's
how much a pack of cigarettes (60 to 75 cents) or a can Budweiser (50 to 60
cents) cost there. An IMAX movie will cost you 5 to 6 dollars while an hour of
pool is about a dollar, a dollar fifty...

 

[tpdtom]

You guys kill me, all of ya' talking pool action and rotation games etc. . When I'm in the Phils I can't stop chasing the women, or rather, enjoying beating off the women who are chasing me . It's heaven ! Even for a fat, grey headed, middle aged old fart like me. You can go and sit in a shopping mall in the afternoon and college girls will stand in groups near you and giggle and smile shyly. All they want is to talk and find out where you're from, and if it's the USA they're even happier ! They adore Americans, unlike the rest of the world, and are delighted to be your tourguide and maybe more. I'm going again in February ...Tom

 

[John Barton]

You guys kill me, all of ya' talking pool action and rotation games etc. . When I'm in the Phils I can't stop chasing the women, or rather, enjoying beating off the women who are chasing me . It's heaven ! Even for a fat, grey headed, middle aged old fart like me. You can go and sit in a shopping mall in the afternoon and college girls will stand in groups near you and giggle and smile shyly. All they want is to talk and find out where you're from, and if it's the USA they're even happier ! They adore Americans, unlike the rest of the world, and are delighted to be your tourguide and maybe more. I'm going again in February ...Tom

-cough- sputter---- ahem....... we don't know nuthin about that mister, this is Ames, no dames, no broads, no booze, just pool mister.

 

[jay helfert]

You guys kill me, all of ya' talking pool action and rotation games etc. . When I'm in the Phils I can't stop chasing the women, or rather, enjoying beating off the women who are chasing me . It's heaven ! Even for a fat, grey headed, middle aged old fart like me. You can go and sit in a shopping mall in the afternoon and college girls will stand in groups near you and giggle and smile shyly. All they want is to talk and find out where you're from, and if it's the USA they're even happier ! They adore Americans, unlike the rest of the world, and are delighted to be your tourguide and maybe more. I'm going again in February ...Tom

Just one visit to Angeles City and you will never be the same. There are no taboos here and just about everything is accepted openly. In many ways better than the restrictive culture of America, where almost all forms of behavior are questioned by one group or another. Yes, it is a culture shock when you arrive here and see countless middle aged men walking down the street hand in hand with a lovely young beauty (or two). The women here are openly friendly and hopeful of meeting an American man for friendship and a possible relationship.

None of that cat and mouse game you play at bars in America. If a girl likes you, she lets you know. And you can feel comnfortable to walk up and talk to any single woman you see. They will not reject you, and even if they have a boy friend, they will inform you right away. It's no wonder so many ex-pats are living over here. And the fact you can rent a nice apartment for $200 to $300 a month! A house mught cost you four to five hundred. With the streets lined with bars, and a motley crew of refugees from all over the world walking around, you would think there would be trouble aplenty. NOT THE CASE at all!

There are NO fights over women because there are so many available. And no fights over money, because everyone feels rich over here. I just had a big breakfast (American style) for under $3. And my nice hotel room here is costing me about $22 a day. And everywhere guys walk around with a pool cue on their arm. Last night I played with Singapore Johnny, the best player in Angeles, except for the pro Rolando Garcia. Many people watched us spar, he was a former sub on Singapore's Asian Games team. He was a top flight Snooker player before taking up pool when he arrived here 14 years ago. We played 9-Ball on a good Kangeroo (filipino) table, which resembles a Gold Crown.

I had trouble adjusting to the cloth, which was some off brand, and the table speed baffled me even after two hours of play. What happened to the old Jay who could figure out any table in 30 minutes or less? We played Ring Game Ten Ball first with Darryl Nordquist and a man named Dave from the U.S. I know Darryl from years ago in Long Beach, CA where he was one of the better players. His wife is filipino and they have lived here over 15 years now. He is the second best player in town after Johnny. Dave looks like a guy who has played pool all his life and must have been a reasonably good bar table player once upon a time. That's how I read him.

I think I may have come out on top in the Ring Game along with Johnny, so we made a date to meet that night in the local pool hall called Horizons. I know I backtracked a little here. Horizons also had a Kangeroo table, that was the one I had trouble adjusting too. And Johnny pummelled me in 9-Ball, probably winning two thirds of the games. No bet was involved, only citywide supremacy. I am NOT the best player in Angeles! It's Johnny. Someone asked me if I play for money and would I be willing to play Johnny. I said he could bet what he wanted at One Pocket or Banks. End of conversation.

I hope I don't offend anyone with my tales of Angeles City, but I try to tell it just like I see it. No holds barred. I am staying just around the corner from where Ted Lerner lives, my co-commentator on the recent WPC TV shows. He has a nice 3BR house where he lives with his lovely wife Aurora (filipino) and 13 year old daughter Shanti. He first visited 17 years ago and has lived here for 14 years now. He has encouraged me to think of a move here, but my family and business in the states make that impossible now. Maybe some day. I like it here, not quite so crowded and much cleaner air. And far less expensive than Manila.