Jose Parica

[Terry Ardeno]

Does anyone out west know if Jose Parica still owns a pool hall in California? If so, can you tell us anything about it? The atmosphere, does he still gamble with road players, how does he get along with the other west coast players, etc. I know about his rivalry with Reyes, but, I never hear of any of the other Filipino players paling around with him like they do with Reyes and Bustamonte.
Thank you.

 

[JAM]

Does anyone out west know if Jose Parica still owns a pool hall in California? If so, can you tell us anything about it? The atmosphere, does he still gamble with road players, how does he get along with the other west coast players, etc. I know about his rivalry with Reyes, but, I never hear of any of the other Filipino players paling around with him like they do with Reyes and Bustamonte.
Thank you.

I don't think Jose owns the pool room anymore. Last time I spoke to Jose, he was living in Las Vegas, he said, as his wife bought a home there. I do not know if this is a second home or if they actually left California and moved to Vegas.

As far as gambling goes, the Jose I know shows no fear and steps up to the plate whenever given the chance. Keith has played against Jose, played with Jose in partner games, as well as backed Jose. Both of them do love those games of stake.

A few years ago, Jose and Efren ended up in the finals at a tournament in California, and Jose defeated Efren. When I saw Jose a week or so later, he told me about this great victory, but said he was a little disappointed that the pool media didn't seem to make any mention of this win, but that if it had been Efren who won, it would have made front-page news around the world.

I think the Filipinos do hang together at various events. They like Chinese food more than American food, and so they will sometimes go out to eat together. Sometimes many of the Filipino champions will get staked when they compete in American tournaments, and they may travel in a group. I know Spanish Mike is a strong supporter of the Filipino contingent. Also, you won't see them gamble against each other on American soil very often, if at all.

Jose Parica is one of the very few pool players I have welcomed in my home. After the U.S. Open one year, he stayed with us for a short spell before venturing off to another pool event. I remember Jose had left his leather shoes in Virginia Beach and didn't have any to compete with in an upcoming tourney, as you weren't allowed to wear sneakers.

My foot is a half size bigger than Jose's foot, and so I lent him my black leather Mephistos. He won the event wearing those Mephisto shoes, and when he departed, he took them with him. I saw him several months later at a tournament, and he was still wearing those Mephisto shoes, even though they were a half size too big. I always got a chuckle out of that.

I think pool players, especially old school, stick together when on the road, and Jose Parica has ALWAYS been a very good friend to Keith. The first time I met Keith, Jose and he were traveling together, having just left the DCC in Louisville. I had been away from pool for a long time and had never heard of Jose Parica. Keith introduced me to his road partner that day, and like a goof, I said, "Glad to meet you, Jose. Do you play pool, too?" Jose Parica ended up winning the one-pocket tourney that week.

According to Jose Parica, he won the very first world pool tournament, which was pre-WPC era, in Japan. His portfolio of championship titles reads like a Ph.D. in pocket billiards. Before Efren rose the ranks to super stardom, it was all Jose Parica, and as such, he is given a great deal of respect by his Filipino counterparts. I am proud to call him my friend.

JAM

 

[cuetechasaurus]

Jam are you sure that was the finals of a tournament? If it was in the last six or seven years, I don't recall Efren and Jose in the final of a tournament, but Jose has won several within that time frame. I remember he beat Efren in either the semifinals or quarter-finals of a tournament at Hollywood Billiards a few years ago. Jose put on a clinic on the jump shot against Efren. Efren would hook, Jose would jump, make the ball, and then run out. Efren seemed like a zombie that match, couldn't catch a gear and couldn't catch Jose, LOL.

 

[JAM]

Jam are you sure that was the finals of a tournament? If it was in the last six or seven years, I don't recall Efren and Jose in the final of a tournament, but Jose has won several within that time frame. I remember he beat Efren in either the semifinals or quarter-finals of a tournament at Hollywood Billiards a few years ago. Jose put on a clinic on the jump shot against Efren. Efren would hook, Jose would jump, make the ball, and then run out. Efren seemed like a zombie that match, couldn't catch a gear and couldn't catch Jose, LOL.

I am 100-percent positive that Jose Parica won in the finals against Efren Reyes. The reason I am so sure is because Jose and I spoke about this tournament at length. If memory serves me right and subject to check, Jose defeated Efren to win the whole event from the loser's bracket.

I will do a forum search and find out the EXACT tournament when I get some time. It happened in 2003.

JAM

Edited, and here it is. Parica Foils the Magician in Hollywood

With a string of top level events coming up over the next few weeks, the top 9-ball players in the world are starting to make their way to the states. Efren 'The Magician' Reyes and Jose Parica started their tournament play a little sooner with a stop at the Pechauer West Coast Tour season finale at Hollywood Billiards in Hollywood, Ca.

Reyes and Parica met up in the third round where Reyes scored a 9-5 win over Parica. Reyes dodged a bullet in the next round, as Hollywood Billiards housepro Max Eberle led early by the score of 6-2. Reyes came back to win that match 9-8 and remain undefeated going into Sunday matches.

Reyes scored back to back 9-5 wins on Sunday to capture the hot seat. His first win was against tour points leader Rafael Martinez and then Ismael Paez fell next.

Parica took his trip to the one-loss side after the loss to Reyes and rolled off seven straight wins to set up the rematch with Reyes in the double elimination finals.

While Parica might have looked beatable in his last two matches against George Michaels and Ismael Paez, he was unstoppable in the finals against Reyes. Reyes only trips to the table were to try to kick at a ball and before the crowd knew it, Parica had raced to a 10-1 lead. Parica kept the pressure on and won the final set 13-4.

Parica won $2300 for first, while Reyes settled for $1500 in second place money. Paez and Michaels filled out the top four spots.

Complete Payouts:
1st Jose Parica $2300
2nd Efren Reyes $1500
3rd Ismael Paez $1000
4th George Michaels $750
5th/6th Lorry DeLeon, Rafael Martinez $500
7th/8th John Bryant, Marshall Jung $350
9th/12th Calvin Coker, Max Eberle, Mike Najarian, Tang Hoa $250
13th/16th Jim Lewis, Francisco Galindo, David Relijik, Danny Petralba $150

JAM

 

[Gerry]

I got to chat with Jose' for a short time at the Expo. He's a super nice guy and this pic was taken right before he jumped into the Pit and started beating up on everyone!

Gerry

 

[JAM]

I got to chat with Jose' for a short time at the Expo. He's a super nice guy and this pic was taken right before he jumped into the Pit and started beating up on everyone!

Gerry

Great pic. I see that Jose is sporting that Hustlin' USA Clothing brand!

JAM

 

[ragbug74]

I had the chance to talk with Jose this past January at the DCC. We were watching HelenaT. play a banks match and he was playing the next match on the same table. A very nice guy who still has plenty of game left, even at age 55+ (57?). Similar to Efren, I love to watch his expressions as he plays. Maybe it's just a Filipino thing, but I love how those guys chuckle and smirk when they hook themselves. It's probably because now that they've left themselves a kick shot, they can drill it and continue their runout, as kick shots to the Filipinos seem as easy as straight in to you and I. Most people don't realize it, but before Efren, there was Jose: the original Filipino Invader. I think over time, people will realize what an incredible player he is/was, but he always seems to play second fiddle to Efren. Both players deserve their props for their contributions to the game and incredible level of play for so many years.

 

[Hail Mary Shot]

I am 100-percent positive that Jose Parica won in the finals against Efren Reyes. The reason I am so sure is because Jose and I spoke about this tournament at length. If memory serves me right and subject to check, Jose defeated Efren to win the whole event from the loser's bracket.

I will do a forum search and find out the EXACT tournament when I get some time. It happened in 2003.

JAM

Edited, and here it is. Parica Foils the Magician in Hollywood

With a string of top level events coming up over the next few weeks, the top 9-ball players in the world are starting to make their way to the states. Efren 'The Magician' Reyes and Jose Parica started their tournament play a little sooner with a stop at the Pechauer West Coast Tour season finale at Hollywood Billiards in Hollywood, Ca.

Reyes and Parica met up in the third round where Reyes scored a 9-5 win over Parica. Reyes dodged a bullet in the next round, as Hollywood Billiards housepro Max Eberle led early by the score of 6-2. Reyes came back to win that match 9-8 and remain undefeated going into Sunday matches.

Reyes scored back to back 9-5 wins on Sunday to capture the hot seat. His first win was against tour points leader Rafael Martinez and then Ismael Paez fell next.

Parica took his trip to the one-loss side after the loss to Reyes and rolled off seven straight wins to set up the rematch with Reyes in the double elimination finals.

While Parica might have looked beatable in his last two matches against George Michaels and Ismael Paez, he was unstoppable in the finals against Reyes. Reyes only trips to the table were to try to kick at a ball and before the crowd knew it, Parica had raced to a 10-1 lead. Parica kept the pressure on and won the final set 13-4.

Parica won $2300 for first, while Reyes settled for $1500 in second place money. Paez and Michaels filled out the top four spots.

Complete Payouts:
1st Jose Parica $2300
2nd Efren Reyes $1500
3rd Ismael Paez $1000
4th George Michaels $750
5th/6th Lorry DeLeon, Rafael Martinez $500
7th/8th John Bryant, Marshall Jung $350
9th/12th Calvin Coker, Max Eberle, Mike Najarian, Tang Hoa $250
13th/16th Jim Lewis, Francisco Galindo, David Relijik, Danny Petralba $150

JAM

Was this the DCC 9-ball event? I hope that Jose catches a gear in 1P. that game seems to be his waterloo. he's a very nice guy indeed and the first guy I came to know about billiard supremacy before Efren. I only knew him then by his monicker "Amang". During the early 90's, Amang was still the number 1 household name. Efren and Django both were close second. then it all changed after Efren's first U.S. Open title.

 

[JAM]

Was this the DCC 9-ball event? I hope that Jose catches a gear in 1P. that game seems to be his waterloo. he's a very nice guy indeed and the first guy I came to know about billiard supremacy before Efren. I only knew him then by his monicker "Amang". During the early 90's, Amang was still the number 1 household name. Efren and Django both were close second. then it all changed after Efren's first U.S. Open title.

It happened in August 2003 at a pool room in California and was the Season Finale of the Pechauer Tour.

JAM

 

[Hail Mary Shot]

one thing is for sure, Jose needs a lot of exposure. by then, most people (non-Filipino) will recognize him more. I could only wish that it had happened sooner, when he was still in his prime prime and made a huge impact to the game, same as Efren and Django. I believe the culprit then was the sponsorship dilemma. Jose appeared more like a roadplayer on his own rather than a consistent tourney winner with sponsors because of it. Efren and Django on the otherhand, had someone bigtime individuals to back them up.

However, it's still not to late for a last ditch for glory. Better Late than Never. A last ride for pool supremacy and well deserved recognition.

 

[CaptainHook]

Parica was and will always be my favorite. I guess cause he left a lasting impression on me, as he was the first of the Filipino players that i saw.

My dad told me, that he and the other guys in the service taught the Filipinos how to play pool, he said the bars for the military were the first ones to have pool tables, as well as the officer clubs. He was a hustler, and I still have some of the paper money he made playing pool back then.

 

[LAMas]

It happened in August 2003 at a pool room in California and was the Season Finale of the Pechauer Tour.

JAM

Yes, It was at Hollywood Billiards in Hollywood CA. Efren sent Parica to the losers side earlier. After that, Efren was surrounded by his friends who were buying him shots of hard liquor while Parica slept on a sofa catching ZZZZs. Parica was shooting with a Fury cue as part of Team Fury and sported a jump cue for the first time. Parica mastered the jump cue by the time the finals came. I guess that Efren was affected by the liquor and that jump cue.

Sad, no more Pechauer Tour in SO Cal last year.

 

[Hail Mary Shot]

Yes, It was at Hollywood Billiards in Hollywood CA. Efren sent Parica to the losers side earlier. After that, Efren was surrounded by his friends who were buying him shots of hard liquor while Parica slept on a sofa catching ZZZZs. Parica was shooting with a Fury cue as part of Team Fury and sported a jump cue for the first time. Parica mastered the jump cue by the time the finals came. I guess that Efren was affected by the liquor and that jump cue.

Sad, no more Pechauer Tour in SO Cal last year.

So it was all the jump cue's fault !

 

[CrownCityCorey]

Does anyone out west know if Jose Parica still owns a pool hall in California? If so, can you tell us anything about it? The atmosphere, does he still gamble with road players, how does he get along with the other west coast players, etc. I know about his rivalry with Reyes, but, I never hear of any of the other Filipino players paling around with him like they do with Reyes and Bustamonte.
Thank you.

Jose no longer has the poolroom. It has been closed. He now has stake in or full ownership of a poolroom in the Phillipines that his son runs.

Jose has always gotten along well with all the players. He is also always ready to step up if the game is right. He does, however rarely get a game that he can win at (everyone wants tremendous weight).

I have not seen him in a while. He & his wife do have a home in Las Vegas and one in Walnut, Ca (primary residence), but Jose has been frequenting the Phillipines more and more over the last couple years.

 

[Fuji-whopper]

My favorite Parica story:

We were in Reno for the tournament and playing some cheap blackjack downstairs, Parica is watching and making suggestions on how to play some of our hands. A friend and I ask how come he isn't playing since he obviously knows a lot about the game and how to (as well as you can) win.

He says he is broke currently, otherwise he would be playing with us instead of guiding us. My friend says "Didn't you just win that tournament in Vegas, 1st place was $10k wasn't it?".

Parica's response:
"Man, that was 3 weeks ago!"

I know he had sent some money back to his wife (probably half or more), but the way he said it was hilarious. Parica is a character and great player for sure, every shot and every stroke look exactly the same. Easy.

 

[jay helfert]

Does anyone out west know if Jose Parica still owns a pool hall in California? If so, can you tell us anything about it? The atmosphere, does he still gamble with road players, how does he get along with the other west coast players, etc. I know about his rivalry with Reyes, but, I never hear of any of the other Filipino players paling around with him like they do with Reyes and Bustamonte.
Thank you.

When they are in the states, many of the younger filipinos hang around with Jose. He is somewhat a mentor to them, since he is so familiar with all things U.S.

 

[PoolBum]

Jam are you sure that was the finals of a tournament? If it was in the last six or seven years, I don't recall Efren and Jose in the final of a tournament, but Jose has won several within that time frame. I remember he beat Efren in either the semifinals or quarter-finals of a tournament at Hollywood Billiards a few years ago. Jose put on a clinic on the jump shot against Efren. Efren would hook, Jose would jump, make the ball, and then run out. Efren seemed like a zombie that match, couldn't catch a gear and couldn't catch Jose, LOL.

Jose beat Efren something like 13-4 in the finals of the Pechauer Tour finale at Hollywood Billiards. That was approximately 3-4 years ago. Jose came from the one-loss side, IIRC.

 

[Deadon]

The Filipono contingent are regulars every year at the June Jamboree at Hard Times in Sacramento. Efren, Santos, Franciso and Dennis have all been there, although Efren hasn't been there for a couple of years. Franciso is probably going to be there this year. Dennis was there last year and matched up with Tony Chohan, Dennis lost playing 1p. Here's a pic of the crew so you can get the idea if they hang together..... this was taken at the tournament in 2005.

BTW, its only about a month until this tournaments. 20K added in several regular (open) and USPPA events.

Mike

 

[Terry Ardeno]

Thanks everybody for the insights, stories and tidbids on this great player.
It's nice to see a whole thread on a pro player in which there is NOT ONE NEGATIVE comment about him!
JAM, I knew for a while that you and Jose have a very good relationship. Your post was especially informative, as I never knew that Keith and him were road partners. Um um um. Man alive, how brutal would it be to see those two coming in to play and not know who they were??? Wow...
My impressions of Jose are good as well. I've only met him 3 times but on one occasion in Ohio, we were able to sit and talk for about 45 minutes. He is a humble man but also proud of his accomplishments at the same time. He told me that out of the Filipinos, he likes Luat a lot as a person.
He is also funny because even when he's not in action, he wants to read about what horse is racing where and so on. It seems like his mind is always consumed with getting in some sort of action.
I also think he knows that most Americans really like him.

 

[Terry Ardeno]

The Filipono contingent are regulars every year at the June Jamboree at Hard Times in Sacramento. Efren, Santos, Franciso and Dennis have all been there, although Efren hasn't been there for a couple of years. Franciso is probably going to be there this year. Dennis was there last year and matched up with Tony Chohan, Dennis lost playing 1p. Here's a pic of the crew so you can get the idea if they hang together..... this was taken at the tournament in 2005.

BTW, its only about a month until this tournaments. 20K added in several regular (open) and USPPA events.

Mike

Deadon,
Nice photo!
For some reason, when I saw this picture, the following scene came to mind...
A bunch of construction workers working out of town just got paid and so they wanted to go out and "shoot a little pool" Get where I'm going with this? Anyway, after a few drinks and bar hoping, they feel like it's time. So they all flood into the nearest pocket billiards establishment and begin ball banging. After a few more drinks, they notice a group of little guys softley hitting balls and missing (playing safties) on a nearby table. One especially brave soul ambles over and inquires if they'de like to "play some for some money". The guys who were just approached look sheepishly at one another and if you look real close, $ signs are where their pupils were a few moments ago. "Sure mister, we'll play you some..."

Flash forward a couple of hours later. They'll all scrunched together 4 to a pick up truck cab and the ride is real quiet. Nobody says much as the windshield wipers just go back and forth...back and forth. A few more minutes later, the silence is finally broken...."Man, we should have went bowlin' "