Jose 'Amang' Parica

[Rico]

John Kucero beat Jose in a bar table tourn. The next time in Vegas at the Cue Club Jose gave him the7,8 for 5 grand he should have been arrested .They would call it 5 grand larceny .Johns break didnt work sitting in a chair.Gambling he is the(Pinoy).

 

[Runner]

I believe it was even earlier than that, about 1981. Jose finished something like tied for 9th place. It may have been his first time playing 14.1. After the tournament Mizerak (our best 14.1 player at the time) tried to give Jose fifty balls going to 150 and Jose roasted him. That was when the East Coast crowd got the message. The rest of the country didn't find out how good he was until that fateful return visit to the USA in 1985, when Jose hustled his way across America.

His stop in Houston at LeCue was the most eventful. He played one champion after another Ten Ball, giving spots to all of them. They kept bringing in new players to challenge him to no avail (James Christopher and David Howard among them). Finally they brought in the big gun - EARL! Jose ground Earl down to where he was getting the nine ball at the end. It made no difference, Jose had shown his superiority to the American players and they never forgot that week in Houston. Buddy refused to play him and never did. After that week, Jose ruled 9-Ball and Ten Ball in America for the next twenty years, similar to what Efren accomplished in One Pocket.

That's it right there, Jay.. in the 80's, forget about it.. Jose was the first Pinoy to come and dominate. I think the match I'm recalling is Chesapeake, '84-'85? vs Archer.. Jose had Johnny in the electric chair, when Johnny had a shot it wasn't great and he was ice cold. Jose making combos, billiard shots on the 9, deadly safes...
And I don't think Buddy ever beat Jose in a tournament either... and that's Buddy freakin' Hall!

Parica's shotmaking, position play, and determination definitely are a giant killer!

Jay, did Parica ever match up with Mark Tadd?.. I seem to remember they matched up at Hard Times when Jose was here... what a great time for pool back then!

 

[Michael Andros]

This is his win history according to Wiki. And I'm guessing there are probably some missing, since there are none after 2008:


2008 SoCal 14.1 Tournament
2005 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship, 2nd place
2004 Joss Northeast Nine-ball Tour, November 20–21 Stop, Berlin, Connecticut, first place[6]
2004 Brunswick Men's Pro Player Championship, 2nd place[6]
2003 Great Seminole Senior Open, 1st place[1]
2003 Pechauer Nine-ball West Coast Tour, Season Finale, 1st place[1]
2003 Derby City Classic, One-pocket Champion[1]
2003 Derby City Classic, Over-all Bonus Round, 2nd place[1]
2003 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship, 2nd place[1]
2003 Joss Northeast Nine-ball Tour, Stop 2, 1st place[7][8]
2003 Joss Northeast Nine-ball Tour, Stop 4, 1st place[7][9]
2003 Joss Northeast Nine-ball Tour, Stop 5, 2nd place[7][10]
2003 Joss Northeast Nine-ball Tour, Season Finale, 2nd place[1]
2003 Joss Northeast Nine-ball Tour, Stop 20, 2nd place[1]
2003 Predator Atlanta Nine-ball Open, 2nd place[1]
2002 Derby City Classic, All-around Champion[7]
2002 Derby City Classic, One-pocket Division, 2nd place[7]
2002 Capital City Classic, One-pocket Champion[7]
2002 Hard Times Summer Jamboree, One-pocket Champion[7]
2002 Joss Northeast Nine-ball Tour, Stop 24, 2nd place[7][11]
2002 Atlanta Pro Open, 2nd place[7]
2002 Senior Masters III, 2nd place[7]
2001 Derby City Classic, Nine-ball Banks Champion[12]
2001 Karabatsos Invitational Tournament, 2nd place.[12]
2001 BCA Open Nine-ball Championship, Men's Division, 2nd place[12]
2001 Reno Open, 2nd place[12]
2000 Hard Times Winter Jamboree, Nine-ball Division, 1st place[13]
2000 Joss Northeast Nine-ball Tour, Stop 11, 1st place[12][14]
2000 Joss Northeast Tour Nine-ball, Stop 4, 2nd place[13]
2000 Joss Northeast Nine-ball Tour, Stop 13, 2nd place[12][15]
1998 8th Annual Andy Mercer Memorial Nine-ball Classic
1997 PBT Legends of Nine-ball, 1st place[16]
1997 Camel Overall Winner



1997 Camel Boston Open, 1st place[16]
1997 Camel South Jersey Open, 1st place[16]
1997 PCA Sharky's Challenge, 1st place[16]
1996 PBT Darafeev Pro Nine-ball Classic, 1st place
1996 Lion's Den Tournament, Las Vegas, NV
1996 Shooter's Open Championships
1995 On Cue Billiards Tournament, La Mesa, CA
1994 Tommy's Billiards Tournament, Mesa, AZ
World Team Championship (Team Philippines)[not specific enough to verify]
1992 Philippine Nine-ball Open Championship
1991 Florida State Open
1991 Ohio State Open
1990 Tennessee Bar Table Championship
1990 Florida State Open
1990 Ohio State Open
1990 World Pro Nine-ball Championship (Japan)
1990 Jupiter Open
1989 World Pro Nine-ball Championship (Japan)
1989 International Open Nine-ball
1989 Philippine Nine-ball Open Championship
1988 Gandy Open
1988 Japan Open
1988 World Pro Tournament
1988 Gandy Open
1986 Great American Open
1986 Clyde Childress Open, Classic Cup V USPPA Pro, first place[16]
1982 Playboy All-around Classic
1980 International,[not specific enough to verify] Taiwan, All-around Champion
1980 Philippine Nine-ball Open Championship
1979 Japan Open
1978 International,[not specific enough to verify] Japan, All-around Champion
Philippine Hall of Fame awardee

 

[PoolBum]

This is his win history according to Wiki.

1990 Jupiter Open

Now that right there is impressive. It's one thing to beat everybody on earth, but to beat everybody on Jupiter too?! Amangzing!

 

[Michael Andros]

Now that right there is impressive. It's one thing to beat everybody on earth, but to beat everybody on Jupiter too?! Amangzing!

My thoughts exactly! Intra-Solar-System Champeen of the Woild ( errr... Solar System ) !

 

[Michael Andros]

Now that right there is impressive. It's one thing to beat everybody on earth, but to beat everybody on Jupiter too?! Amangzing!

And, I just noticed, this is how strong Jose plays! He beat up everyone at the 1988 Gandy Open so badly, he actually won it TWICE... at the same time!!! How strong is THAT???

1988 Gandy Open
1988 Japan Open
1988 World Pro Tournament
1988 Gandy Open

 

[grindz]

Tap tap tap....

Love his game, his demeanor, and his attitude. One of
My top 5 to enjoy watching.

Td

 

[PoolRookie]

I seen him play in person hundreds of times. I never was impressed because being inexperienced I was looking for blasting balls in with power draw.

Anyway I was at Q Masters in Virginia the week before the US Open and he was matched up with a guy that gave me the 8 playing 9 ball the year before and beat me. I’m no champion but a A level or Shortstop I guess. Jose was giving this guy the last 6 and robbing him and making it look easy. He ran tons of six packs. That’s the night I learned the spot is useless when you are in your chair. Plus never play winner break with a pro.

I bought Jose in several Calcutta’s and made money over the years. He’s such a nice guy and never got the respect Efren got and I think that really bothered him. He always made it a point to say to most people Efren never beat him.

I loved when he was thinking and held his cue next to him standing straight up. The cue and him were the same height. Small guy with a huge heart. Other than Buddy Hall no one moved the cueball with ease like him. His long draw shots were effortless. He got more action on the cueball with the least amount of effort, than any other pro.

At the Music City Open one year McCready was barking looking for action. One guy spoke up Jose just walked in and I’m sure you can still get the last two, that was the end of the barking that night. No disrespect for McCready who just ran through the mini-tournament beating Archer and Tony Ellen with ease to win it. I can go on and on but we all know he was great or in my opinion the best.


Sent from my iPhone using AzBilliards Forums

 

[PoolBum]

He’s such a nice guy and never got the respect Efren got and I think that really bothered him. He always made it a point to say to most people Efren never beat him.

Jose could make the game look Efrenless.

 

[jay helfert]

Buddy played pool the simplest way, kind of Don Watson style, moving the cue ball as little as possible to get position for the next shot, playing short position over and over again. You must have perfect cue ball control to play this way. You have to be able to hit a lot of soft shots and caress the cue ball. It's not a power game, but a finesse game. Efren's game is a lot like Buddy in this respect, but perhaps a little more sophisticated in that he finds unique paths for the cue ball to take. Jose and Earl, on the other hand, moved the cue ball all around the table, guiding it through small openings and making it twist and turn to get where they wanted it to go. They didn't mind sending the cue ball three rails to get perfect shape. I would call it playing with controlled power. No one ever moved the cue ball like these two guys. They were masters at playing this way. If there was a difference between the two of them, it's that Jose may have played this game a little better than Earl, and just never missed anything, especially for money!

One caveat to the above. I saw Yang play at his best and he was amazing the way he manipulated the cue ball. I watched him run racks that every other player would be looking to play safe on. He could get out from nowhere, manufacturing a run out where there didn't appear to be one. He wasn't afraid to shoot any kind of circus shot if it helped him continue the run. He would study the shot for a minute or two, take a sip of water and then fire it in and play position on the next shot! At his best he was something to behold. I only saw him play twice but I won't ever forget that display.

 

[Michael Andros]

Buddy played pool the simplest way, kind of Don Watson style, moving the cue ball as little as possible to get position for the next shot, playing short position over and over again. You must have perfect cue ball control to play this way. Efren's game is a lot like Buddy in this respect, but perhaps a little more sophisticated in that he finds unique paths for the cue ball to take. Jose and Earl moved the cue ball all around the table, guiding it through small openings and making it twist and turn to get where they wanted it to go. They didn't mind sending the cue ball three rails to get perfect shape. No one ever moved the cue ball like these two guys. They were masters at playing this way. If there was a difference between the two of them, it's that Jose may have played this game a little better than Earl, and just never missed anything, especially for money!

Jay - What's your opinion on the difference in pressure playing for the cheese as opposed to tourney-play? In the end, tourney is for the cheese as well but, for me, it's always been a different kind of sensibility. Your thoughts?

 

[jay helfert]

Jay - What's your opinion on the difference in pressure playing for the cheese as opposed to tourney-play? In the end, tourney is for the cheese as well but, for me, it's always been a different kind of sensibility. Your thoughts?

Let me put it this way Michael. Playing in a tournament, there is always money for second place, and deals get made all the time. Playing for the cash, there is no second place and guys go home broke! It's the ultimate test in pool and poker, who wins the biggest cash games. That's what puts guys like Dennis O., Tony C. and a few others at the top of the food chain.

 

[Michael Andros]

Let me put it this way Michael. Playing in a tournament, there is always money for second place, and deals get made all the time. Playing for the cash, there is no second place and guys go home broke! It's the ultimate test in pool and poker, who wins the biggest cash games. That's what puts guys like Dennis O., Tony C. and a few others at the top of the food chain.

Agreed, Jay. And amen.

 

[pt109]

Jay - What's your opinion on the difference in pressure playing for the cheese as opposed to tourney-play? In the end, tourney is for the cheese as well but, for me, it's always been a different kind of sensibility. Your thoughts?

I’ve been in a little action in my life.
There is nothing more serious in the pool world than two players playing even...
...for the cash.
No player wants to be the guy who had to take his cue apart.....
...the value of the money gets forgotten...you play for your game to survive.

Tournaments, however, are the best hope for the game’s future.
Everybody can play, and win and lose, without getting their hearts and their bank accounts
broken.......the PGA is my favorite model.

 

[Michael Andros]

I’ve been in a little action in my life.
There is nothing more serious in the pool world than two players playing even...
...for the cash.
No player wants to be the guy who had to take his cue apart.....
...the value of the money gets forgotten...you play for your game to survive.

Tournaments, however, are the best hope for the game’s future.
Everybody can play, and win and lose, without getting their hearts and their bank accounts
broken.......the PGA is my favorite model.

PT - Remembering back to all the tournaments I went to in the 70s and 80s, the main draw, as far as sweaters went, BY FAR, was the action. Sure, the big-name players' matches in the tourney got a lot of attention but the action was the main draw. It wasn't unusual to sweat a match-up for 24 hours or more ( with TONS of coffee or other little helpers as well ). It was action, by and large, that people came to see. There was always something different about action compared to the tourney play. Something more vital, more... dangerous, maybe. And absolutely more electric. Those times were the best I ever had around pool.

 

[Michael Andros]

Anyway, by way of trying not to hijack the thread and so to bring it round full-circle, all said and done? Parica was in the top 2 or 3 I ever saw play for the cheese. Just frickin' awesome.

 

[pt109]

Big Bill Werbenuik....got to #8 in the world pro snooker ranking.
In snooker’s off season, he sometimes wandered down the west coast from Vancouver.
...played everything well, even ran a hundred at snooker with one hand.
....and played jam-up for the cash.

So he loses to some little guy who was only the weight of his left leg in a 9-ball tournament...
...somewhere on the West Coast..
....tells him..”You got the 8 for a couple thou when the
matches are over tonight.”

His road partner at the time, Ronnie Allen, tells him who Jose Parica is....
(This is Billy telling me this this personally....goes to Jose and says...)
“On further perusal of the situation, I’m withdrawing my offer.” :smile:

 

[Michael Andros]

Big Bill Werbenuik....got to #8 in the world pro snooker ranking.
In snooker’s off season, he sometimes wandered down the west coast from Vancouver.
...played everything well, even ran a hundred at snooker with one hand.
....and played jam-up for the cash.

So he loses to some little guy who was only the weight of his left leg in a 9-ball tournament...
...somewhere on the West Coast..
....tells him..”You got the 8 for a couple thou when the
matches are over tonight.”

His road partner at the time, Ronnie Allen, tells him who Jose Parica is....
(This is Billy telling me this this personally....goes to Jose and says...)
“On further perusal of the situation, I’m withdrawing my offer.” :smile:

Big Bill musta been in love with his cash. Smart guy...

 

[Ak Guy]

Hey Jay

Putting you on the spot here and feel free to say go away if ya want.

In their prime at rotation games and in a dark room with their own money on the table.

Who wins Jay, is it Dennis or Jose? Or could they meet several times and just trade money back and forth?

 

[jay helfert]

Putting you on the spot here and feel free to say go away if ya want.

In their prime at rotation games and in a dark room with their own money on the table.

Who wins Jay, is it Dennis or Jose? Or could they meet several times and just trade money back and forth?

Both in their prime, that would be a gangster match-up, like a death match. They both had/have the killer instinct and no fear for the cash. It would have been one of those matches that was just a matter of who lasted the longest. Neither player has any back down in him. No one else in the Philippines I've seen quite like these two. There are and have been many other great players, but some of them suffered when the bet got too high and others started looking for the door when the heat was on. In the long run I'd give it to Parica by a hair. The tougher the game the better he played.

Francisco and Lee Vann are probably the next best when playing for serious money. But I doubt either one of them wanted to match up with the two little killers, especially playing even. One other thing, both Dennis and Jose were/are not adverse to putting their own money in the middle. All of it! :thumbup2:

When I said earlier that Jose was the best Rotaion player I ever saw, that goes for past and present champions. We have some great players today (Shane, Shaw, the Chinese guys and some of the young 'uns) but Jose would have eaten them all for lunch. Make them play Ten Ball on a tough table where it's not all break and run and he would still be the best! You needed some real intestinal fortitude to play Jose, because he was going to come at you and come at you and never stop or slow down. The big difference was his perfect execution of shot after shot. Miss was not in his vocabulary and his idea of a safe was making you kick backwards to hit the ball. He might shoot a semi loose shot once an hour, and I don't mean a miss, just a slightly errant safety or poor position. He'd just smile, shake his head and get back to work destroying you on his next turn.

What I love about Dennis is his ability to close out a match. He only needs one chance and that's enough for him to finish you off. Even if he falls far behind, he's very dangerous, making comebacks from seemingly impossible places. He's the best player I ever saw shooting a tough rack for all the cash, as in hill-hill. He can play perfect pool under that kind of pressure and not many can or do (Shane and Chang are the closest). If you give him any air at all, you're toast.