JOSE ” AMANG” PARICA CONTINUED HIS WINNING RUN IN US POOL TOURNEY

Monday, February 22, 2010, 2:39
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FILIPINO legend Jose “Amang” Parica continued his winning ways in the US pool tourney after dominating the just concluded 14th Annual Jay Swanson Memorial 9-Ball Tournament in Hollywood, California in Los Angeles, California.

Parica, dubbed as the leader of the Filipino invasion in the US pool circuit in the mid 80’s edged American Sal Butera in a come-from-behind 13-12 win to clinch the title.

With the feat, Parica received the top prize of Parica $3,000 while Butera settled for runner-up purse of $1,500.in the 192 player field that gathered last February 13 to 14 event.

Butera was leading the race-to-13 finals match, 12-11, when he bobbled the 6-ball, giving the Filipino a chance.

“But with no real way to get on the 7 ball, he (Butera) had to rely on his safety game, which served him well. Butera managed to hit the 7, but he left Parica a shot, which ‘Amang’ took willingly to run out for game, set, match, and tournament,” reported BilliardsMagazine.com’s Lea Andrews.

On his way to the finals, Parica defeated Louis Ulrich (8-4), Greg Harada (8-4), Marshall Jung (8-7) and Wayne Pullen (8-1).

Parica, known to local billiards fan as “Amang”, was recently inducted into the One Pocket Hall of Fame. He also won the 12th Annual Derby City Classic.60-year-old above Seniors One-Pocket Mini Event at the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel in Indiana last month.

“Amang (Jose Parica) brought the game of 9-ball to a higher level. He became the World Player of the Year in 1997,” recalled friend, Marlon “Marvelous” Manalo in a recent interview.

“He was the first player to shoot a perfect game of 1,000 points, which was a World Record in 9-Ball race to 11 format. Amang was the only Filipino to win all major final titles against his Filipino counterpart,” added the former snooker champion.

Parica’s rise to fame began when he won the World Open 9-Ball Child Cypress title in Lexington in the early ‘70s.

One of the most feared 9-ball artists during his prime, Parica learned to play the game when he was 7 years old, competing against older guys in his father’s billiards hall in Blumentritt, Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Parica became the national three-cushion, rotation and snooker champion in 1979. He also established the Philippine Pocket Billiards Association and became its first president.

He dominated the Japanese circuit in 1988, winning 8 of the 9 tournaments he competed in. That same year, he won the World Pro Tournament, the biggest and richest tournament at that time, by beating compatriot Efren “Bata” Reyes in the finals, 9-3. The tournament was played in Tokyo where he beat around 900 players to win 5 million yen.

Parica, a former Derby City One Pocket titlist, achieved one of the most revered records in pool, and was the only player to win a perfect run out match of 9-ball under race-to-11 format without misses or fouls.

The Manila-raised Parica, who hails from Nueva Ecija, has been a top player for more than 3 decades. He is an ambassador for pool all over the world.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO.