sjm said:
Great post, Lewdo. I've watched every great player since Lassiter, and the only player that I think merits mention in the same breath as Efren is Mike Sigel. Efren is everything and more than he's cracked up to be.
How are you, sjm? You know, as I once told you, this year's DCC was the first time I had the opportunity to watch Efren in person. In this particular evening, he was warming up for his one pocket match by simply spreading all 15 balls on the table and running them. That took place over the course of about an hour. Sometimes he would cluster two balls together to make it a little more challenging. A bunch of top pros were sitting around on the floor watching him: Corey Deuel, Mika, Pagulayan, Bustamante, Luat, Sambajon, Gabe Owen...
I must say that I've never witnessed the awe that Efren inspired on other top players. Usually they all possess a "I-too-can-do-it" attitude, and with good reason. Efren ran about 10 racks without a miss, sometimes purposely taking a bank, combo, or some other low percentage shot. Never hesitating more than 30 seconds... More important than what he was doing was the *way* he was doing it.
Mika and Pagulayan would from time to time shake their heads or smirch in astonishment. You should've seen the ease with which Efren ran 150+ consecutive balls... Corey Deuel's jaw was half-way down to the floor.
And there Efren was, hitting some balls before his match... with the casual poise of an aristocrat drinking water.
As you know, sjm, I do not have the benefit of your experience studying the game of top players over the decades. But that evening, it was obvious to all of us who were there, that we were being treated to the work of a much too uniquely gifted individual.
Best regards.
