Parica beat Efren in world finals?
- Thread starter hwest
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Well, Parica has Efren's number. He's beaten Efren more than anyone else, and consistently over the years. Doesn't mean Parica is better overall, it's just that he has a knack for taking Efren down.
Have you ever played in a weekly tournament or a league where you always tend to beat a certain player, or there's a player that almost always beats you? Same thing.
Have you ever played in a weekly tournament or a league where you always tend to beat a certain player, or there's a player that almost always beats you? Same thing.
I think thats right. I did see both off them play alot in the late 80s early 90s and back then I always bet on Jose and usualy came out winner.I think Efrens probably the stronger of the 2 now.He sure holds up well for his age.Jose has alot more gamble though,hes fearless for the big doe.Reyes dont have much grind in him.If he loses a couple he quits,Jose will grind it out for days.
I don't know about the eight pack part, but the rest is essentially true. I think they called this tournament the International 9-Ball Championship. I think Sigel and Varner both played in it.
Jose is better than 99% of people to ever hold a cue....You should show the man some respect...I doubt you ever did or ever will play as good as him...
It's true for sure. Before Efren, there was Jose. He wore the Filipino pool crown and was very well respected then in his home country, as he still is today.
Parica led the Filipino Invasion, pre-Efren.
According to Wikipedia, Parica had won close to one hundred tournaments in the U.S., thirteen in Japan, and three in the Philippines (the 1980, 1989 and 1992 Philippine Nine-ball Open Championships). In 1988, Parica dominated the Japanese circuit, winning eight of the nine tournaments he competed in, and placing 2nd in the other. That same year, he won the World Pro Tournament, the biggest and richest tournament in that time, by beating arch-rival Reyes 9-3 in the finals. The tournament was played in Tokyo and had 900 players. Parica earned the first prize of ¥5M. That year, Parica had total winnings of $289K.
There is no doubt that Jose is proud of his accomplishments, and rightfuly so, I think. He's devoted his entire life to pool. Fortunately for Jose, he's married to someone he loves with all his heart, and she not only loves Jose but is accepting of his pool lifestyle. Her success in her own industry has allowed Jose a comfortable existence. Pool definitely does not pay the bills for very many players. The saying "Behind every good man is a good woman" applies here tenfold.
Jose Parica is one of the very few players I've opened my home to. He doesn't drink, smoke, or do drugs. Jose's only vice, like another pool player I know well, is those doggone horses.
I do seem to remember a tournament held in California about five years ago in which Efren Reyes and Jose Parica ended up facing each other. Efren had Jose stuck, and Jose not only came back running consecutive racks, but he defeated Efren in that tournament. Not one mention was made of it in the pool media at that time. If Efren had won, the pool media would have broadcast it around the world.
Ask Jose about that one sometime. He loves to tell that story! :grin-square:
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I never said he wasn't good or couldn't play, hes a champion no doubt. But I just can't stand hearing from Jose is how he beat this guy and that guy allllllllllllll the time. I've seen it in person and I've seen it many times in interviews etc...
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I think this is the AzBilliards article about the pool tournament that Jose defeated Efren: 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.
Article: Parica Foils the Magician in Hollywood
Billiards Digest came out with an article about Jose Parica being in Efren's shadow. When I saw Jose on the road, he was quite animated when he'd bring up this tournament win against Efren, stating nobody seemed to know about it. Well, Azbilliards got it, thankfully. That's how I posted it in this thread! :grin-square:
Believe it or not, Efren Reyes used to hail Jose Parica growing up. Jose Parica was the best at one time. Efren found his game and excelled in the pool world like a rocket. He will probably be the most celebrated pool player in my lifetime for sure.
There are many unsung heroes in pool, but make no mistake about it, Jose Parica is a thoroughbred champion through and through.
Jose Parica was recently inducted by his peers into the One Pocket Hall of Fame, along with Minnesota Fats, Piggy Banks, and Harry Platis.
Article: Parica Foils the Magician in Hollywood
Billiards Digest came out with an article about Jose Parica being in Efren's shadow. When I saw Jose on the road, he was quite animated when he'd bring up this tournament win against Efren, stating nobody seemed to know about it. Well, Azbilliards got it, thankfully. That's how I posted it in this thread! :grin-square:
Believe it or not, Efren Reyes used to hail Jose Parica growing up. Jose Parica was the best at one time. Efren found his game and excelled in the pool world like a rocket. He will probably be the most celebrated pool player in my lifetime for sure.
There are many unsung heroes in pool, but make no mistake about it, Jose Parica is a thoroughbred champion through and through.
Jose Parica was recently inducted by his peers into the One Pocket Hall of Fame, along with Minnesota Fats, Piggy Banks, and Harry Platis.
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Gatz, I understand your thoughts, but I can also understand why Jose is adamant about himself, ESPECIALLY in the pool world. He is truly a proud man. I have chatted with Jose many times about topics such as this, and when you're hitting 60 years of age and your entire life is all about pool, it's understandable. I think this is hard for young folk to understand.
It breaks my heart to see the disrespect shown to some older pool players. I am DEFINITELY not referring to you, Gatz. I am just reminded of some of the things I have read on this very forum and heard with my own ears.
One thing for sure, nobody can take away Jose Parica's numerous championship titles. Whether he's heralded as a pool great or not, he's still my horse if he never wins another race. He has been a good friend to many a pool player when they were down on their luck. I do like Jose a lot.
The first time I met Jose was at the Capital City Classic in Maryland. I had never heard of him before, which is a funny story in its own right. Jose Parica won the Capital City Classic one-pocket event. :wink:
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Yep, that's Ronnie Alcano.
The picture was taken immediately after the player on Jose's right defeated Ronnie in the finals, 9-zip, at a Joss Tour event in Connecticut, I think it was. It took everybody close to an hour to find a good seat to sweat the finals, a final match that was over within 15 minutes. :grin-square:
I'm sure he didn't like losing like that, but that's pool. One day, you can't miss a ball, and another day, you can't make a ball. LOL!
Ronnie was actually very pleasant when accepting defeat, as most Filipino players are. At that time, Ronnie was more worried about getting himself back home to Philippines. He had been in the States for a while and, I believe, had paperwork problems. Fortunately, it all got ironed out legally, and Ronnie was able to return home, only to win the WPC several years later. I was probably screaming the loudest from my computer for Ronnie to win.
I do admire Ralf Souquet, who came in second that year in the WPC, and I respect his pool accomplishments, but I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Filipino players. The Filipino culture is so warm and welcoming. They treat each other with respect, even as they age, unlike Americans.
Interestingly, you'll never see them gamble against each other here in the States, unless they are performing for the backers. They stick together and try to help each other when it comes to expenses while on the road. Alex Pagulayan told me that. :wink:
Other than the odd few American pool players like Mills or Strickland... Every single one of my favorite pool players to watch or emulate are Pinoy's. They are such a joy to watch play, with their crazy kicks or 4 rail positional shots. I especially like how they never really make a big deal about anything or show any emotion or reaction. Other than the few tourney's Mill's plays I am always picking a Pinoy to win it and lately Lee Van has been great for the cheddar. I just find them to be a bit more humble and way less whiny about the rules or pocket sizes or break formats or table brands or whatever else a lot of the American players cry about on facebook all day. They just show up and do their thing. I am not trying to suggest they are better in any way than Americans or any other country, their is just usually less drama when they are playing.
That is a very astute point! It is true that it is very rare to see a Filipino competitor complain about the equipment or playing conditions.
Jose Parica said that when he grew up playing pool in Philippines -- 15-ball rotation and not the 9-ball rotation that is popular in America -- that the equipment was horrible. The balls did not roll evenly, with warts and bumps on them. In fact, some of the balls were not all the same size. And then there's the warped tables with holes in the cloth. That is how some Filipino players developed their game, on equipment like that.
It's no wonder that when they came to the States competing in 9-ball rotation, six less balls to worry about, on pristine fields of green with perfectly round balls, why, they thought they were in pool heaven! :thumbup:
tough conditions
JAM you are right of course. Rotten tables and equipment and add that they often played outdoors or in rooms without any kind of climate control. Apparently they play on some viciously tough tables sometimes too. I used to play on an old snooker table that had very tight pockets, however that wasn't the big deal. Unlike the snooker tables of today, even championship tables, the radius of the slate in the table pockets was cut to match the width of the pockets. This made for insanely deep shelves.
When I was talking to a very good playing local Filipino I mentioned that old table. He got all excited and gave me a big grin! "That is just like the table I learned to play on!" Bad equipment or just super tough equipment, I suspect that old snooker table he learned on was both, demand a lot of touch and a lot of precision to make balls and get shape. Hard to persuade these guys that a nine foot Diamond is tough when they come over here!
Hu
JAM you are right of course. Rotten tables and equipment and add that they often played outdoors or in rooms without any kind of climate control. Apparently they play on some viciously tough tables sometimes too. I used to play on an old snooker table that had very tight pockets, however that wasn't the big deal. Unlike the snooker tables of today, even championship tables, the radius of the slate in the table pockets was cut to match the width of the pockets. This made for insanely deep shelves.
When I was talking to a very good playing local Filipino I mentioned that old table. He got all excited and gave me a big grin! "That is just like the table I learned to play on!" Bad equipment or just super tough equipment, I suspect that old snooker table he learned on was both, demand a lot of touch and a lot of precision to make balls and get shape. Hard to persuade these guys that a nine foot Diamond is tough when they come over here!
Hu
Parica
There was a time when Parica was a top dog in that elite group of players that play around the world, however, Efren Reyes is in a class all his own. The man is a living icon. I don't think Jose Parica is that much of a braggart but then again I haven't been keeping up with Jose's career as of lately.
As for those who are considered true braggarts! I think there is none bigger than Mike (THE MOUTH) Sigel. He talked so much s..t before playing Efren Reyes on the now defuncted IPT. I was so happy to see Efren wipe the floor with him.
There was a time when Parica was a top dog in that elite group of players that play around the world, however, Efren Reyes is in a class all his own. The man is a living icon. I don't think Jose Parica is that much of a braggart but then again I haven't been keeping up with Jose's career as of lately.
As for those who are considered true braggarts! I think there is none bigger than Mike (THE MOUTH) Sigel. He talked so much s..t before playing Efren Reyes on the now defuncted IPT. I was so happy to see Efren wipe the floor with him.
Jose does like talking about his wins over Efren.
He did to me at Hard Times one night. Then I asked him who put him out in the 1997 US Open semis. :grin-square:
He talked about how big that Tokyo tournament was until he reminded him Efren won the biggest purse ever in Tokyo.
