Been in Angeles City the last few days. Hung out with Ted Lerner, the unsung American who had so much to do with bringing the WPC here. His newest horse is Roland Garcia, one more great young player. We played and talked pool together for a couple of days.
Rolly is off to Korea today for The Korean Pool Championships. Angeles City is an unbelievable place. Where the old Clark Air Force Base was. Much smaller and less crowded and polluted than Manila. Club after club brimming with young lovelies, anxious to meet a stray American. And there are many living here. You can live good on a thousand a month.
I've met many ex-pats including Darryl Nordquist, a good player from Southern Cal who moved here years ago. Every bar has a 9' table, no bar tables here. The standard line I hear from the Americans here, "It's a tough life but someone has to do it". Hee Hee Hee!
Had dinner with Yen Makabenta the night before I left Manila. Great guy who is making big plans for Pool in Asia. Manila IS the center of Pool in Asia. We went to Star Paper, a private room set up for aspiring pro players. The owner "Basty" is a wealthy local who loves and supports pool. Everything is free if you are invited there! About 20 Brunswick Metros and a few Gold Crowns. Hit 'em around with Yen and he can play! Sad, another misspent youth.
From there it was off to Bugsys for the final match up between Dennis and Van Van. Ten Ball this time with the same result, Van wins 23-15. His manager Perry Mariano says Dennis has not been practicing enough, but Van just looked better. Bugsys is just about the coolest one table pool room in the world. Perry's private little spot for matches just like this. Will be hard to leave the pool wonderland that is Manila and points west (Angeles). But I must. Plane to catch on the 14th, and U.S. Bar Table starting on the 28th.
whew!....am really scared....tough guy in pool forums, huh?....
