Pool Hall Recommendations - Davao City, Philippines

FeelDaShot

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I need recommendations for nice pool halls in Davao City. I’m staying at the Apoview Hotel and looking to explore the billiard scene. Thank you!
 
Well, no luck really except one spot nearby in San Pedro. Four tables in a partially covered store front. The equipment was terrible and the place was so crowded I couldn’t see much. I stood on the sidewalk to watch for a second and a few guys quickly approached me looking to make a game since I’m the only American. An older guy told my wife to get me out of there because they will **** with me and rob me if I stick around. So I took his advice and left.

Later I went to a spot at SM Lanang Mall based off the recommendation of a taxi driver and hotel worker. Unfortunately, it was just a few tables in a kid friendly arcade/bowling alley environment. The tables weren’t even close to level and everyone there were just kids messing around, no players.

I’m pretty disappointed with Davao from a pool perspective. I’m off to Cebu next and then Manila. Hopefully I’ll have better luck there.
 
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Well, no luck really except one spot nearby in San Pedro. Four tables in a partially covered store front. The equipment was terrible and the place was so crowded I couldn’t see much. I stood on the sidewalk to watch for a second and a few guys quickly approached me looking to make a game since I’m the only American. An older guy told my wife to get me out of there because they will **** with me and rob me if I stick around. So I took his advice and left.

Later I went to a spot at SM Lanang Mall based off the recommendation of a taxi driver and hotel worker. Unfortunately, it was just a few tables in a kid friendly arcade/bowling alley environment. The tables weren’t even close to level and everyone there were just kids messing around, no players.

I’m pretty disappointed with Davao. I’m off to Cebu next and then Manila. Hopefully I’ll have better luck there.

There used to be a pretty nice poolroom in the other big mall there. I played in there a couple of times, but the last time I went back to Davao (maybe four years ago) it was gone. I won a poker tournament at the main card room in Davao on that last trip. First prize was 15,000P (about $300) and they asked me (more like demanded) that I tip the tournament director 2,500 and give the "house" another 2,500. I walked away with 10,000 for a 100P entry (with multiple re-buys for the first hour. I only bought in once!) and was lucky to get that. :smile:

One more thing about Davao. The current president Duterte was the mayor there for many years and he cleaned up that city pretty good. It's probably the safest large city in the Philippines for a foreigner (as long as you play by their rules). There's a really nice neighborhood up on the hill overlooking the city where many foreigners live. I came close to buying a home up there with my current GF back then. Only about twenty thousand US at the time. Samal Island just off the coast is a really cool vacation spot. Maybe a twenty minute boat ride to get over there with nice (and inexpensive) overnight lodging. I rented a motorbike and rode all over that island from top to bottom.
 
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Manila is where u want to be.

Oneside billiards
BILLLIARD/POOL HALL
1533 A MABINI ST, BGY 668, ZONE 072 ERMITA, MANILA

Star Paper Billiards Center
Quezon city
 
There used to be a pretty nice poolroom in the other big mall there. I played in there a couple of times, but the last time I went back to Davao (maybe four years ago) it was gone. I won a poker tournament at the main card room in Davao on that last trip. First prize was 15,000P (about $300) and they asked me (more like demanded) that I tip the tournament director 2,500 and give the "house" another 2,500. I walked away with 10,000 for a 100P entry (with multiple re-buys for the first hour. I only bought in once!) and was lucky to get that. :smile:

One more thing about Davao. The current president Duterte was the mayor there for many years and he cleaned up that city pretty good. It is probably the safest large city in the Philippines for a foreigner (as long as you play by their rules). There's a really nice neighborhood up on the hill overlooking the city where many foreigners live. I came close to buying a home up there with my current GF back then. Only about twenty thousand US at the time. Samal Island just off the coast is a really cool vacation spot. Maybe a twenty minute boat ride to get over there with nice (and inexpensive) overnight lodging. I rented a motorbike and rode all over that island from top to bottom.

Lol thanks for sharing Jay. I went island hoping on Samal a few days ago. Beautiful is an understatement!! White sand, blue clear water, snorkling, and San Mig Light ;)
 
Manila is where u want to be.

Oneside billiards
BILLLIARD/POOL HALL
1533 A MABINI ST, BGY 668, ZONE 072 ERMITA, MANILA

Star Paper Billiards Center
Quezon city

Don't forget the bowling/billiard center at Robinson's Place Mall Ermita, close to OneSide. There are good players in there every day (they will ask you to play!) and they can tell you where the big money games are going on. There are many little poolrooms all over Manila in small malls and shopping centers where players meet up to gamble. The Superbowl at Cinema Square Mall in Makati is a nice room and has a Diamond table and many good players looking for action.
 
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I was in Manila, Makati and Quezon City for a few weeks in 2010. IIRC there were nice places to play in the malls and also at Oneside. You should have no problems finding a game. Have fun!
 
What are you doing in Davao? Pamily?

Yeah, my wife grew up in a province a few hours outside of Davao. We stayed at her house for Christmas and now we’re back in Davao.

This is my first trip here to meet the family and explore the country. So far it’s been one hell of an experience. Fun, informative, and humbling to say the least. Some of these people live in such horrible conditions yet always seem to be in a good mood. I can learn a lot from these folks.
 
While the players may be great, I often wondered if there was any money to be won there.

Jay's poker example where he played in a poker tournament and won $300, and actually made it out with $200....:rolleyes:.

Ken
 
While the players may be great, I often wondered if there was any money to be won there.

Jay's poker example where he played in a poker tournament and won $300, and actually made it out with $200....:rolleyes:.

Ken

As an American, and usually alone, I found that there was lots of money to be won there when I lived there.

Getting out with it was another thing.
 
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