Why do Filipino spectators touch and crowd the table during matches?
- Thread starter LeftyIke
- Start date
As an American, it was a bit of a culture shock playing pool in the Philippines with the described settings. but the more I learned and adapted to the culture there, the more I loved it and began to understand why pinoys are so strong in billiards. yes, the tables are crowded during matches, the table is marked with powder to mark the balls, insects are removed from the table, the surroundings are loud and noisy. The pool halls are ALIVE, people are placing bets, I love this setting. Typical westerners will say "it's rude", I say, no one's asking for your opinion. Philippines is a different culture, respect it for what it is. well, that's my 2 cents.
Tap Tap! I love it too and I've played in more pool halls over there than probably any pro player. I went into all the little hole in the wall places and played outside under a tent/tarp many times. In Pasay City where my daughter lived they started calling me "Billiard Man" because I had become so familiar in the local poolrooms.
The humidity over there can be overwhelming, making it extremely difficult to play, but I just keep wiping my hands off and putting tons of powder on them and the cue, and continue playing. All I usually carry is a tip tool and a piece of scotch brite and I'm good to go. I play off the wall with one of their cues and most of the time it's Rotation, which happens to be a great game with lots of strategy and room for creativity. A normal game might be 100-300 pesos ($2-6) and playing for 1,000P ($20) is a big game. A foreigner will get asked to play as soon as they enter any poolroom! And the second thing will be deciding on the bet. They don't like to play for fun over there. :grin:
They are trying to get close, so they can wipe their hands on your shirt.
No paper towels. The center of all issues.
No paper towels. The center of all issues.
I think that was a quality, not quantity.issue.
A buncha talk won't bug pags, but some incessant and unchecked whining will.
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JC knows a little bit of what he talks....he married Pinoy.
...and he’s nobody’s fool.
We all see things with different filters....it’s the human condition.
I agree.
It is an excellent way to train and that's just one of the reasons they're so darn good too.
Their training reminds me of that second (I think) Rocky movie where Apollo Creed takes Rocky back to the gym with leaking water pipes, sweat, the smell of farts and urine..and says........"THIS is how you train when you're hungry to win".
:thumbup2:
Best training arenas in the world. You're right.
:thumbup:
If you happen to get lucky and win the money, will they let you leave with it or do they beat hell out of you and take it all back like in many places over here?
(I had that happen to me and a stakehorse in Mexico, long ago)
I know everyone is different and just because one Filipino player or spectator does something that does not mean "all" Filipinos' do the same. But, here is one experience with one of the Filipino players I play from time to time:
I will not mention his name as I'm not sure how he or his backers would feel about it. Not to mention, I barely can pronounce their names to begin with.
A while back, one of them was in Huntsville, Al and played me while he was there. He showed up with (memory), I think five or six other Filipinos. They were his backers/muscle. We played 10 ball the entire time. At around 4 hours or so, I had him down around 6k. We were paying off at end of each set. The largest set we had played at that time was $500 in a 5 ahead race. I remember we started off at $200 in race to 7 / win by 2..... but he kept asking so we eventually ended up at 5 ahead for $500.
During each and every set, there were at least two or three of them leaning on table directly across from side of table I was shooting from and most times, one of them would stand within a foot or two of me while in stance, either to the side or behind me, looking over my shoulder. Ever so often, one would stand in front of the pocket I was shooting at and sometimes even touch the corner pocket. They were loud and never stood still regardless of the shot.
I always ask the one fellow standing elbow to elbow to step back a little while I was in play. He always respectfully said ok and took a step back but would sort of "inch" his way back to where he was before until I ask him to move again. The guys that stood across from table "never" moved regardless of how many times I ask. The only time I could get one to move was if he was standing directly beside or behind me.
Having said all the above, they did the same thing when "their" player was in play. It did not seem to bother him but it really caused me to miss position which in return would cause me to either miss the next shot or force me to shoot a safe instead of getting out.
Also, I think it is worth mentioning, they almost always end up trying to high-roll me but it never works, as I've been around enough to know how to handle that. If I win it at $500 a set, I will lose it that way or we can quit. Lol, they know I'm that way but always try the double or nothing or raising the bet by X3 or 4 the original bet etc..etc.
I want even get into the talking chit while I'm in play. LOL........ it is something that you will cause you to do one of the following:
get use to it
not get use to it and go broke
quit and not play
Regardless of how much they get down, or how much they are up, the Filipinos I've played with never alter the way they do things in a match.
Why, I dunno. I guess it's because some of the things mentioned in other posts.
It irritates the hell out of me but they got a LOT of gamble in them and they never ask for a spot so I put up with it because around here it is hard to get a game on a regular basis unless a good amount of weight is given. Even then, it is usually a quick "hit it and quit it" thing.
Rake
I will not mention his name as I'm not sure how he or his backers would feel about it. Not to mention, I barely can pronounce their names to begin with.
A while back, one of them was in Huntsville, Al and played me while he was there. He showed up with (memory), I think five or six other Filipinos. They were his backers/muscle. We played 10 ball the entire time. At around 4 hours or so, I had him down around 6k. We were paying off at end of each set. The largest set we had played at that time was $500 in a 5 ahead race. I remember we started off at $200 in race to 7 / win by 2..... but he kept asking so we eventually ended up at 5 ahead for $500.
During each and every set, there were at least two or three of them leaning on table directly across from side of table I was shooting from and most times, one of them would stand within a foot or two of me while in stance, either to the side or behind me, looking over my shoulder. Ever so often, one would stand in front of the pocket I was shooting at and sometimes even touch the corner pocket. They were loud and never stood still regardless of the shot.
I always ask the one fellow standing elbow to elbow to step back a little while I was in play. He always respectfully said ok and took a step back but would sort of "inch" his way back to where he was before until I ask him to move again. The guys that stood across from table "never" moved regardless of how many times I ask. The only time I could get one to move was if he was standing directly beside or behind me.
Having said all the above, they did the same thing when "their" player was in play. It did not seem to bother him but it really caused me to miss position which in return would cause me to either miss the next shot or force me to shoot a safe instead of getting out.
Also, I think it is worth mentioning, they almost always end up trying to high-roll me but it never works, as I've been around enough to know how to handle that. If I win it at $500 a set, I will lose it that way or we can quit. Lol, they know I'm that way but always try the double or nothing or raising the bet by X3 or 4 the original bet etc..etc.
I want even get into the talking chit while I'm in play. LOL........ it is something that you will cause you to do one of the following:
get use to it
not get use to it and go broke
quit and not play
Regardless of how much they get down, or how much they are up, the Filipinos I've played with never alter the way they do things in a match.
Why, I dunno. I guess it's because some of the things mentioned in other posts.
It irritates the hell out of me but they got a LOT of gamble in them and they never ask for a spot so I put up with it because around here it is hard to get a game on a regular basis unless a good amount of weight is given. Even then, it is usually a quick "hit it and quit it" thing.
Rake
I only had a problem once, but not like you'ere talking about. Several years back I played a good player some Bank Pool and I won a couple of games for 1,000p each. Now he asked me to play a short race for 4,000p and I agreed. After I won that one he handed me 2,000p and told me he would go outside to the ATM and get the rest. He handed his cue to the guy who was racking the balls for us and left. After about 30 minutes I began to think he wasn't coming back.
Silly me decided to do something that I might do in the states. I walked over to the kid who had his cue and started chatting with him. I asked him if his friend was coming back. He assured me he was. Then I asked to see his pool cue, I wanted to hit some balls with it. The kid was too surprised to say no, so he handed me the cue. I hit a few balls with it and told the kid I was going to hang onto his cue until he returned. The kid didn't know what to say and just walked away and got on his phone. Maybe five or ten minutes later the guy came back and gave me the 2,000p he owed me. Case closed. :wink:
I know, I know. I should have had him post the money but in that poolroom (One Side) money was rarely posted and often the games were for much higher stakes. I was just pissed when he tried to stiff me for 2,000p. I knew that if I did nothing I would never see the money. My old instincts took over after that.
I must have played a hundred games there over the course of five or six years, most of them for low stakes of 100-500p a game. I did play the owner of a small poolroom in a mall for 1,000p a game Rotation and we attracted a crowd ringing the table, all Filipinos. I played this guy on three occasions and each time he loaned me a cue to play with. The crowd cheered as much for my good shots as they did for his. We were a close match and I liked playing him in front of that crowd. It was an atmosphere I happen to love.
Seems like every time I played over there I made friends and had a good time. I guess I fit into their lifestyle, just a guy who liked to play and bet a little. When I returned to one of these places, everyone was happy to see me and wanted to see me play again. Hell, I'd do it again if I could, but a lot of the little rooms have died out and in Angeles City it's mostly all league pool and very little action, although there are still some big money games ($1,000 or more) put together from time to time with players none of you ever heard of. Mostly guys from Australia playing against Filipinos. I would have no chance with these guys, except maybe playing Banks and that's not gonna happen, so I steer clear of them.
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Jay,I only had a problem once, but not like you'ere talking about. Several years back I played a good player some Bank Pool and I won a couple of games for 1,000p each. Now he asked me to play a short race for 4,000p and I agreed. After I won that one he handed me 2,000p and told me he would go outside to the ATM and get the rest. He handed his cue to the guy who was racking the balls for us and left. After about 30 minutes I began to think he wasn't coming back.
Silly me decided to do something that I might do in the states. I walked over to the kid who had his cue and started chatting with him. I asked him if his friend was coming back. He assured me he was. Then I asked to see his pool cue, I wanted to hit some balls with it. The kid was too surprised to say no, so he handed me the cue. I hit a few balls with it and told the kid I was going to hang onto his cue until he returned. The kid didn't know what to say and just walked away and got on his phone. Maybe five or ten minutes later the guy came back and gave me the 2,000p he owed me. Case closed. :wink:
I know, I know. I should have had him post the money but in that poolroom (One Side) money was rarely posted and often the games were for much higher stakes. I was just pissed when he tried to stiff me for 2,000p. I knew that if I did nothing I would never see the money. My old instincts took over after that.
I must have played a hundred games there over the course of five or six years, most of them for low stakes of 100-500p a game. I did play the owner of a small poolroom in a mall for 1,000p a game Rotation and we attracted a crowd ringing the table, all Filipinos. I played this guy on three occasions and each time he loaned me a cue to play with. The crowd cheered as much for my good shots as they did for his. We were a close match and I liked playing him in front of that crowd. It was an atmosphere I happen to love.
Seems like every time I played over there I made friends and had a good time. I guess I fit into their lifestyle, just a guy who liked to play and bet a little. When I returned to one of these places, everyone was happy to see me and wanted to see me play again. Hell, I'd do it again if I could, but a lot of the little rooms have died out and in Angeles City it's mostly all league pool and very little action, although there are still some big money games ($1,000 or more) put together from time to time with players none of you ever heard of. Mostly guys from Australia playing against Filipinos. I would have no chance with these guys, except maybe playing Banks and that's not gonna happen, so I steer clear of them.
When your in Angeles go to Diamond sports bar and ask for Patrick. You'll get your action. He loves to bet.
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Thanks, I'll do that. :wink:
Seems like I've been in all those places and never see anything happening except friendly games. I've challenged the table (it's always Eight Ball) and played a few guys and we just played for the game. The loser pays the 15 or 20p the house charges. After you win several games in a row they just stop playing. Probably been in Diamond before as well. Maybe I was just there at the wrong time.
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I believe patrick played Efren 1pocket for 35,000 pesos. Efren thanked him for the donation. I havent seen him play but im told hes the best expat in Angeles.
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This is quite an interesting story and a nice score for you. I have seen the Filipino "contingents" that show up when Efren, Francisco, Alex, Dennis, Warren and Roberto and some others play and they are mostly fans of theirs (who live in the local area), although they also may have a backer(s) with them as well on some occasions. For the most part these guys stay in the background and don't get too involved with the game, blending in with the crowd. I have never seen behavior like you speak about here except in the Philippines. That's what I find most interesting about your story.
I'm really curious as to who the Filipino player was that you played, since I know most of the under the radar hustlers who have found a way to get over here (visas are hard to come by) and do some gambling. Guys like Gallego, Lining, Farreon, Banares, Valle, Tacayama and Gabica. That's why I sent you a PM asking that question. There have only been a handful or two of these Filipino hustlers who have managed to spend time in the USA, and they are also very strong players. For the most part these guys might have one person along with them and that's about it. I don't think naming one of them means anything to anyone who doesn't already know him. If you don't know him, then you won't know what he looks like even if you hear his name. Of course, if they are traveling in a large group like you speak of then that might be a giveaway too.
P.S. You play very good for the cash if you can beat one of these "unknown" Filipino players. I've yet to see a bad one come over here. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
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Come to think of it I did hear his name before but we haven't crossed paths yet. Last time I was there I think he was in Manila or ?.
I only had a problem once, but not like you'ere talking about. Several years back I played a good player some Bank Pool and I won a couple of games for 1,000p each. Now he asked me to play a short race for 4,000p and I agreed. After I won that one he handed me 2,000p and told me he would go outside to the ATM and get the rest. He handed his cue to the guy who was racking the balls for us and left. After about 30 minutes I began to think he wasn't coming back.
Silly me decided to do something that I might do in the states. I walked over to the kid who had his cue and started chatting with him. I asked him if his friend was coming back. He assured me he was. Then I asked to see his pool cue, I wanted to hit some balls with it. The kid was too surprised to say no, so he handed me the cue. I hit a few balls with it and told the kid I was going to hang onto his cue until he returned. The kid didn't know what to say and just walked away and got on his phone. Maybe five or ten minutes later the guy came back and gave me the 2,000p he owed me. Case closed. :wink:
I know, I know. I should have had him post the money but in that poolroom (One Side) money was rarely posted and often the games were for much higher stakes. I was just pissed when he tried to stiff me for 2,000p. I knew that if I did nothing I would never see the money. My old instincts took over after that.
I must have played a hundred games there over the course of five or six years, most of them for low stakes of 100-500p a game. I did play the owner of a small poolroom in a mall for 1,000p a game Rotation and we attracted a crowd ringing the table, all Filipinos. I played this guy on three occasions and each time he loaned me a cue to play with. The crowd cheered as much for my good shots as they did for his. We were a close match and I liked playing him in front of that crowd. It was an atmosphere I happen to love.
Seems like every time I played over there I made friends and had a good time. I guess I fit into their lifestyle, just a guy who liked to play and bet a little. When I returned to one of these places, everyone was happy to see me and wanted to see me play again. Hell, I'd do it again if I could, but a lot of the little rooms have died out and in Angeles City it's mostly all league pool and very little action, although there are still some big money games ($1,000 or more) put together from time to time with players none of you ever heard of. Mostly guys from Australia playing against Filipinos. I would have no chance with these guys, except maybe playing Banks and that's not gonna happen, so I steer clear of them.
Thank you for that interesting story about the Filipino action on their own turf.
Way back there around 1958, Tommy the Sailor (Tommy Cramer), Long Beach, and myself went down to Tijuana in Beach's big cadillac. We were all flush on the hip after a fix was in at Agua Caliente track and we'd hit with the booker man on 4th street there in S.D.
Beach got into action with some Mexican red hot in that damn fool game they used to play down there where you played in rotation but they lined the balls up frozen to the rails in various locations all over the table. I don't even remember what they called it.
Anyway, Beach drilled the guy for right around 700 bucks, which was darn big money back then. And then came the war.
Those Mexicans all jumped us and beat the daylights out of us and took every cent we had. We got out alive, with broken noses, but Beach could barely drive back across the border. The next week, at Radio's Card Room there on 4th, he and Tommy were in a game playing draw and started making noises about 'going back down there to get even'. I told them they were crazy. I don't think they ever went though.
Long time ago......I was nothing but a kid.
:thumbup:
I also had a problem in TJ many moons ago, but I will refrain from telling that story at this time. Suffice to say we got out with our hides intact, but a little lighter in the pocket.