The difference between Alex & Shane.

When I first saw Alex about 12 years ago. He was under the wing of the Filipino contingent. Every one loved him. He used to do imitations of everyone. I recall falling to the floor of Alex's imitation of Greg Fix. You had to know Greg to get it. He was like the joker in the bunch but always respectful to his elders. Even a stern master like Amang Parica would caution Alex though when he got too boisterous. "Ill beat you with the 8 kid" Jose would say. I could see the fire in Alex's eyes as he held his tongue. "Yeah today you might but not tomorrow" the eyes seemed to say. He made that prophecy come true as he is now one of the top money players in the world.
I think his game is an intuitive one mixed with natural talent and a passion for not only the game but for life itself. He is what we would love to be but few dare.
While Shane is more of an introspective sort. Very intelligent and quiet. Holds himself in check till he know what he wants to say. Diligent in practice and study. Always practicing his craft. He is what we can be if we put a 110% to it as he does.
Ive never seen Alex practice. Not like Shane. Of course I have never been with him day in and day out. But this seems to be the kind of difference between both.
In my limited opinion this is my take .It is the Brain versus the Heart. The Thought vesus the Action. The Intellectuallity vs the Trial by Error. Art versus Science. Two great things that have made anything great.
I see more challenges to come.
 
worriedbeef said:
the main difference between the two of them is experience. alex has been at the top of the game for a long time now and Shane has only just established himself. Experience is a huge factor.

Heart comes into it too but it's not that much of an issue. Although Alex is probably the benchmark for a player's heart to be judged by, Shane has bags of the stuff also and is a very composed character.

another thing that occured to me is the player's styles. Shane has this huge free flowing beautiful stroke, whereas alex's is very compact and short. Shane is arguably the bigger 'flair' player of the two.

When the heat is on in these pressure situations, it's probably a bit easier for alex to keep his stroke under pressure and also fatigue because it's a bit more textbook, whereas Shane probably is a bit more reliant on feeling good.
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I agree. I think the key word is experience. Alex had been around long enough to know what it takes to win, whether he is ahead or behind. I think Shane hasnt had to experience coming from behind alot because he always seems to jump out of the gate so strong. In the other challenge matches, Corey and Earl never really seemed to get the momentum on their side whereas Alex did. Experience helps a player know what to do when another player has the momentum and how to overcome it. I think Shane will definitely get there, but he just needs more seasoning. JMO.

Southpaw
 
Southpaw said:
I agree. I think the key word is experience. Alex had been around long enough to know what it takes to win, whether he is ahead or behind. I think Shane hasnt had to experience coming from behind alot because he always seems to jump out of the gate so strong. In the other challenge matches, Corey and Earl never really seemed to get the momentum on their side whereas Alex did. Experience helps a player know what to do when another player has the momentum and how to overcome it. I think Shane will definitely get there, but he just needs more seasoning. JMO.

Southpaw
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I agree with you Southpaw to a certain extent, but since you've mentioned Corey and Earl, they have tons of experience too, probably more than the Lion, that of being a front runner and playing catch up. It's the heart that holds it up all together for me...
 
ve never seen Alex practice. Not like Shane.
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This is a good point.

From what I have seen with Shane he seems to be head over heels in love with the game. Watching him practice before each session was a beautiful thing. You really can picture him practicing by himself for hours upon hours. Just seeing him break rack after rack after rack constantly setting the balls up again and not lose interest even though a very long session of pool to played hasn't even started yet. A lot of players when they're hitting balls tend to do it somewhat lazily, but Shane seems to be able to put 100% in in his practice from what it looks like to me.

This also seems to be backed up by the way he got good too. Listening to Danny D in commentary for his US open final match he asked Shane who he matched up with to get his game to a high level and he said no-one, he just practiced by himself!

I really admire that. There's a part in all of us that likes to think that given the opportunity to practice we could have been pro's, Shane's an example of how it's really done to reach that elite level.

110% Dedication and commitment.

(btw i think alex is great too in case anybody wonders, I'm just posting my feelings on why i admire Shane)
 
yobagua said:
When I first saw Alex about 12 years ago. He was under the wing of the Filipino contingent. Every one loved him. He used to do imitations of everyone. I recall falling to the floor of Alex's imitation of Greg Fix. You had to know Greg to get it. He was like the joker in the bunch but always respectful to his elders. Even a stern master like Amang Parica would caution Alex though when he got too boisterous. "Ill beat you with the 8 kid" Jose would say. I could see the fire in Alex's eyes as he held his tongue. "Yeah today you might but not tomorrow" the eyes seemed to say. He made that prophecy come true as he is now one of the top money players in the world.
I think his game is an intuitive one mixed with natural talent and a passion for not only the game but for life itself. He is what we would love to be but few dare.
While Shane is more of an introspective sort. Very intelligent and quiet. Holds himself in check till he know what he wants to say. Diligent in practice and study. Always practicing his craft. He is what we can be if we put a 110% to it as he does.
Ive never seen Alex practice. Not like Shane. Of course I have never been with him day in and day out. But this seems to be the kind of difference between both.
In my limited opinion this is my take .It is the Brain versus the Heart. The Thought vesus the Action. The Intellectuallity vs the Trial by Error. Art versus Science. Two great things that have made anything great.
I see more challenges to come.
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good post yoga....

as for my 2 cents:

I have seen Alex practice...he likes to play alone, he countlessly goes over routine shots, plays straight pool for hours, breaks and racks the balls everytime, absorbs everything he can outta every shot, angle, position, whatever....he gives his all too. He might not do it as often or as diligently as Shane...but none the less - to be that calibur of a player he MUST practice pretty dam hard either now or later.

Ask his friends in Canada and people who knew him growing up in the Philippines he breathed, ate, sh i t pool since he was like 7!!!!

Ask Alex...he is the first to admit there ALWAYS is something new to be learned about the game....that shows his itellect and humbleness!!

He is funny and loud as hell, but he is a "thinker" of the game and studies all the games pretty dam hard.

Lastly, he really respects Shane. In 2005 at the Derby he pointed to Shane and said "That kid is good. He's gonna be real good one day." Then I said "Better than you?" and (typical Alex) "Of Course! I suck at this game. Come on honey....it's not even about if I'm better than him....everybody is good here".

Phoebe
 
yobagua said:
When I first saw Alex about 12 years ago. He was under the wing of the Filipino contingent. Every one loved him. He used to do imitations of everyone. I recall falling to the floor of Alex's imitation of Greg Fix. You had to know Greg to get it. He was like the joker in the bunch but always respectful to his elders. Even a stern master like Amang Parica would caution Alex though when he got too boisterous. "Ill beat you with the 8 kid" Jose would say. I could see the fire in Alex's eyes as he held his tongue. "Yeah today you might but not tomorrow" the eyes seemed to say. He made that prophecy come true as he is now one of the top money players in the world.
I think his game is an intuitive one mixed with natural talent and a passion for not only the game but for life itself. He is what we would love to be but few dare.
While Shane is more of an introspective sort. Very intelligent and quiet. Holds himself in check till he know what he wants to say. Diligent in practice and study. Always practicing his craft. He is what we can be if we put a 110% to it as he does.
Ive never seen Alex practice. Not like Shane. Of course I have never been with him day in and day out. But this seems to be the kind of difference between both.
In my limited opinion this is my take .It is the Brain versus the Heart. The Thought vesus the Action. The Intellectuallity vs the Trial by Error. Art versus Science. Two great things that have made anything great.
I see more challenges to come.
Click to expand...


good post yoga....

as for my 2 cents:

I have seen Alex practice...he likes to play alone, he countlessly goes over routine shots, plays straight pool for hours, breaks and racks the balls everytime, absorbs everything he can outta every shot, angle, position, whatever....he gives his all too. He might not do it as often or as diligently as Shane...but none the less - to be that calibur of a player he MUST practice pretty dam hard either now or later.

Ask his friends in Canada and people who knew him growing up in the Philippines he breathed, ate, sh i t pool since he was like 7!!!!

Ask Alex...he is the first to admit there ALWAYS is something new to be learned about the game....that shows his itellect and humbleness!!

He is funny and loud as hell, but he is a "thinker" of the game and studies all the games pretty dam hard.

Lastly, he really respects Shane. In 2005 at the Derby he pointed to Shane and said "That kid is good. He's gonna be real good one day." Then I said "Better than you?" and (typical Alex) "Of Course! I suck at this game. Come on honey....it's not even about if I'm better than him....everybody is good here".

Phoebe
 
Aloha no kako Phoebe!!!

Of course I never intended to say Alex doesnt practice. Like you said in order to be that good you have to practice and study.

But just wanted to address the question of the difference between these two great talents.

I hope you and your keikis are happy as we are for you and your family
 
You could tell Alex was a better player with those killer safties.I think that was the main difference.Shane broke better,and got more rolls.
 
dabarbr said:
Experience. Everytime Shane started on a streak Alex would call for a smoke break.

When Alex got on a run Shane just sat there and took the punisment in his chair.

At the end Alex never took a break when he made his run to win, I'm talking about the final 20 games or so.
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That was not how I remembered it. During the last part, when the momentum shifted to Alex and he was about to catch up, a time out was called. Now why would Alex do that when we was about to catch up with SVB? I really thought that he would lose the momentum after the break.
 
Me and the kids are good....they drive me nuts at times but that is expected of a 4 and 2 year-old!

I just wanted to point out to others that Alex WAS NOT born with his abilities....he had and continues to put in his dues and sacrafice to get/remain at the top. Anyone who thinks he doesn't practice just as hard is silly.

Also wanted to comment on the last post abut Alex's safety play:

To play safeties like THAT on a consistent level is mentally exhausting. I really do feel that Alex's defensive game slowly took a toll on Shane. Especially when Alex was catching up in the score - Shane was noticeably taking a lot less time to think about the kicks....and when he would sell out it would just discourage him even more....that match was hard to fade wether you were Alex OR Shane.
 
good to hear.

I didn't see this match but I saw the second derby one, and pag wasn't himself with his defensive game then.

Let me also say that Alex REALLY thinks the table from everything I've seen. His demeanor might fool people into thinking otherwise. Also being short, if you notice, he's constantly playing position a little differently than shane would.

I wouldn't call alex a feel player.
 
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I hope you get back to playing again Phoebe. The first time I saw you was in Vegas. You really impressed me with your pool playing. Like Rodney and Hawaiian Brian before-fearless. I would like to see you put your efforts back into playing. You would be highly ranked in the pool world and a force to deal with.
 
RFisher said:
Hey, I'm 6'2, Shane definitly is not 6'2,

Bryan Fisher
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Pagulayan is somewhat shorter than me. I've seen him in person. I'm 5'6". So I'm guessing 5'4" or a an inch or two less.
 
yobagua said:
I hope you get back to playing again Phoebe. The first time I saw you was in Vegas. You really impressed me with your pool playing. Like Rodney and Hawaiian Brian before-fearless. I would like to see you put your efforts back into playing. You would be highly ranked in the pool world and a force to deal with.
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yobagua = makes me smile:)!!!

in due time hopefully. i really do believe i made a huge sacrafice at that point in my life.....but i can say it was worth it...the kids are worth it.

BTW, Alex was the one who explained to me that we, short people, have think one extra step than most players about position. And are called upon to almost like play a whole different game...and being good at far shots are key...because usually those are the ones we can easily reach...lol! He also was the one person who encouraged me to hone my skills with the bridge more...coming from hawaii thats hard cause we climb the table here LOL:D :eek: !
 
f210 said:
That was not how I remembered it. During the last part, when the momentum shifted to Alex and he was about to catch up, a time out was called. Now why would Alex do that when we was about to catch up with SVB? I really thought that he would lose the momentum after the break.
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The night before when Shane was building up his 22 game lead Alex called for a smoke break at lease four or five times. The one break at the end during the run Alex had was not enough. However the game was won with the safe play from Alex. In either case it was a great match.
 
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