The Young Efren
- Thread starter victhestick
- Start date
No one believed John when he said in his book there were players in the Philippines who could give the American champs the 8 ball. I remember talking to him in Lake Tahoe in 1982 and questioning him about these comments. I thought he was crazy. I KNEW the American players were the best in the world!
When Efren first arrived in Houston in 1985, he played tournament matches all day and gambled all night. Slept a little in the morning and did it again the next day. For six days straight. It's true, his backers were giving five and six games on the wire in Races To Eleven. And we were emptying out! And he was beating our best players 11-3 and 11-4. He only lost one match that way. In the finals they gave four games on the wire against Wade Crane and he lost 11-9. By then everyone was afraid to bet! So they didn't lose much.
He won 20K in the tourney and another 15 or 20K betting on the side. He must have won 20 to 30K in all the after hours matches, so it was a big score for 1985. Anywhere from 60 to 75K by most estimates. He did lose 5K in a challenge match with Buddy the same night the tourney ended. Efren didn't play as well in that match. He looked tired and almost like he was dumping himself. I was there, I saw it and ref'd for them.
When Efren first arrived in Houston in 1985, he played tournament matches all day and gambled all night. Slept a little in the morning and did it again the next day. For six days straight. It's true, his backers were giving five and six games on the wire in Races To Eleven. And we were emptying out! And he was beating our best players 11-3 and 11-4. He only lost one match that way. In the finals they gave four games on the wire against Wade Crane and he lost 11-9. By then everyone was afraid to bet! So they didn't lose much.
He won 20K in the tourney and another 15 or 20K betting on the side. He must have won 20 to 30K in all the after hours matches, so it was a big score for 1985. Anywhere from 60 to 75K by most estimates. He did lose 5K in a challenge match with Buddy the same night the tourney ended. Efren didn't play as well in that match. He looked tired and almost like he was dumping himself. I was there, I saw it and ref'd for them.
sharpshooter
Registered
Hey Jay,
And isn't it true that when the American's first saw his stroke they thought he would be easy money. I heard some pro mention he had this wild pump stroke and no-one thought it would hold up over extended periods or extreme pressure and that's why everyone was lining up to play him. I believe Efren's stroke has evolved quite a bit since that time and is not as flamboyant as before. Would give anything to see him shooting pool in the 70's!!
And isn't it true that when the American's first saw his stroke they thought he would be easy money. I heard some pro mention he had this wild pump stroke and no-one thought it would hold up over extended periods or extreme pressure and that's why everyone was lining up to play him. I believe Efren's stroke has evolved quite a bit since that time and is not as flamboyant as before. Would give anything to see him shooting pool in the 70's!!
No way that's Fong.mosconiac said:
You notice the ref is WRITING on the cloth with a piece of chalk?
LOL
Must be the spot or score.
JoeyInCali said:
What they write on the cloth is the terms of the game. How long the match is and what each player is going to. It could be a Race To 25 with one player getting three on the wire.
sharpshooter said:
True, they thought his exaggerated pump stoke was a joke. Well, as it turns out, the joke was on them.
sharpshooter said:
If the money match is unusually huge for one side, railbirds usually chip in to make the match happen,
hence, you'll see names of sweaters there who have put in some money and for how much like,
SS (sharpshooter)-220
JH (Jay Helfert)-330
gopi-55
The 10% juice goes to the house, the bet taker and the spotter/referree, and
what Jay said earlier in this thread, the race, the spot, and the amount of the set.
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gopi-1 said:
up for the thread and the continuation of the stories,
great posts and read everyone!
I find it interesting that Efren destroys everyone, tourney and backroom, except Buddy
Buddy must have been a freak
I've said this before, but I don't think Efren has played a large stakes money match on his own dime since he came over
Buddy must have been a freak
I've said this before, but I don't think Efren has played a large stakes money match on his own dime since he came over
PoolBum said:
1. Remember the autograph he signed "Efren Reyes" in Houston. It's rumored that Efren Reyes was already barred from many tournaments in the US before he even came to the US.
2. He did match-up under CM with disappointing results
He found a sponsor in 1979 and made his first trip abroad to Japan, where he won $3,000 hustling and playing in tournaments. Six years later he made his first trip to America.
His sponsor then was a local Filipino with connections in the States. He wanted Efren to hustle. By then, however, the word about Efren Reyes had reached the pool halls of America. But nobody in America knew what Efren looked like. So while in the States, Efren used the name of his friend, Cezar Morales.
He played in and won the Red 9-Ball Open in Houston, Texas, which netted him a few thousand dollars. Then over the next three weeks, playing big money against all comers, Efren won $81,000. But he never saw his promised 50% share. His financier stole the money.
In 1986, he returned to America at the invitation of another financier, a Filipino from Chicago. This man also cheated Efren. In 1987, he had another financier, but they did not get along. In 1988, Efren was financed by an American named Archibald Mitchell. This time Efren finally made money.
"The American didn't cheat me," Efren said laughing. "Only the Filipinos." - Ted Lerner http://www.margarita-station.com/efrenreyes.html
jay helfert said:
Jay,
Unfornately, Efren never saw his share of money per Ted Lerner's interview.
Efren offered me the 6 at the Derby this year, LOL if we wrote the terms of the game on the table it would read:
FATBOY +98500 D.O.A.
EFREN -95300
And I would still have the worst of it. LOL the 6. Man I wish I played like that, hell I neve played like that for 5 minutes in my life, he sure does have confidence in me.
FATBOY +98500 D.O.A.
EFREN -95300
And I would still have the worst of it. LOL the 6. Man I wish I played like that, hell I neve played like that for 5 minutes in my life, he sure does have confidence in me.
crosseyedjoe said:
The rumor back then was that some filipino "mafia" types had brought him over, and they took most of the money he won, giving him only a few thousand. It wasn't until Efren began to come over with Rolando, and travel with Mike Lebron, that he began making money for himself and his family. They looked out for him, and made sure no one took advantage of him.
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True .smashmouth said:
And I never saw Efren hit the restroom every 3o minutes and come out smiling either .
Coffee and Oreo cookies keep him going.
jay helfert said:
Do you know whatever happen to Archibald Mitchell mentioned by Ted, is he still around? He probably has some good stories.
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