Alex Pagulayan
 Alex Pagulayan at IPT North American Open in Las Vegas, July 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | June 25, 1978 Cabagan, Isabela, Philippines | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sport country |  Canada | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | "The Lion" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Professional | 1998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pool games | Nine-ball, One-pocket, Ten-ball, Eight-ball, Banks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tournament wins | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Major | U.S. Open Pool Championship (2006) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Champion | 9-Ball (2004) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Alejandro Salvador "Alex" Pagulayan (born June 25, 1978) is a Filipino-born Canadian professional pool player. His nickname is "the Lion", given to him by Paul Thornley, Canadian snooker player whom he credits as his mentor. Pagulayan is considered one of the best pool players of all time[1] as well as one of the best one-pocket player of all time.[2][3] He was born in Cabagan, Isabela, Philippines and was raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Pagulayan represented the Philippines in the mid-2000s and in 2012, he began carrying the Canadian flag in international tournaments again.
He is known for his relaxed demeanor during competition, and is a crowd favorite, well liked because of his humorous interaction with the audience and entertaining impressions of other players.[4]
Early years
[edit]Alex Pagulayan was born in the town of Cabagan in Isabela, Philippines. He emigrated to Canada when he was 16 years old. His father managed a pool hall, so Pagulayan was introduced to the game at an early age. Though he was also attracted to other sports, he thought his physique may have been unsuitable for them. He has said, "I like a lot of sports, but with pool, you don't have to be physically tough." His main training venue was Loma's pool hall.[5]
Professional career
[edit]Pagulayan has experience in the game of snooker other than Pool, helping the Filipino team to win the Snooker Gold Medal at the 2005 SEA Games (held in Manila, Philippines) with teammates Joven Alba and Leonardo Andam. After the team's 3–2 win against Thailand at the Makati Coliseum, Pagulayan emerged as a triple gold medalist.[6]
Very skilled players in nine-ball have the tendency to sometimes pocket four or even five balls on the break. Pagulayan in the first rack of the semi-finals in the 2004 BCA Open, sank six balls on the break — two-thirds of the entire rack. Pagulayan's break did not include the 9 ball, and despite the six ball advantage, he lost that game (to fellow countryman Santos Sambajon).[7]
In 2002, Pagulayan won through to the finals of the US Open Nine-ball Championship, but was defeated by Ralf Souquet, 11–13. Three years later, he had another good run the US Open Nine-ball Championship title and won it, defeating Jose Parica in the finals, 11–6.[8]
In 2003, Pagulayan went on the road in the United States with Canadian pool player Ronnie Wiseman to compete in pocket billiard tournaments. They scored a double victory at the Carolinas Open at Fast Eddie's in Goldsboro, North Carolina, with Wiseman winning the one-pocket tournament and Pagulayan winning the nine-ball event.[9] Later in 2003, Pagulayan reached the finals of the World Nine-ball Championship but was beaten by Thorsten Hohmann 10–17.[10]
In 2004 in Taipei, Taiwan, Pagulayan captured the prestigious WPA World Nine-ball Championship title while representing the Philippines. The score was a 17–13 victory over Pei-wei Chang in the final.[11] This made him the second Filipino to become a world champion, after Efren Reyes.
In 2006, Pagulayan won the first national championship of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of Philippines (BSCP), besting Gandy Valle in the final and earning P1,000,000 (US$20,639).[12]
Not many pool players in the Philippines excel at or even play straight pool. For a number of years, Jose Parica and Efren Reyes were the only known Filipino players to have made a run of 100 or more. However, at a demonstration match at the 2006 Derby City Classic in Kentucky, Pagulayan made a high run of 130, the second-highest of the event.[13] This made him the third known Filipino player to have run of 100 balls in straight pool competition.
In 2007, Pagulayan won the World Summit of Pool nine-ball championship held at the Riviera Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. American Shane Van Boening defeated Pagulayan earlier in the event, 11–4, but the veteran Pagulayan came back from the losing bracket of the double-elimination tournament chart by beating fellow countrymen Francisco Bustamante and Warren Kiamco, only to face Van Boening in the final round. The semi-finals as well as the final matches were recorded by ESPN for future broadcast, and the final match between Pagulayan and Van Boening was a race to 7. Pagulayan shot out with a strong lead, 4–1, but Van Boening managed to tie the score at 5–5. However, after Pagulayan three-fouled him, resulting in a loss of game for Van Boening, Pagulayan advanced and captured the title in the final game, ending the match at 7–5.[14][15]
On May 11, 2008, Pagulayan defeated Mika Immonen in the Matchroom Sports production of the World Pool Masters in a thrilling final match held at the Rivera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the race to 8, Immonen maintained a strong lead against Pagulayan with a score of 6 to 3, but due to an illegal break when he failed to send the required number of balls past the headstring, Pagulayan took advantage of this error by winning the next three games in a row, with the eventual title going to Pagulayan. "I feel like I did when I won the World Championship," said Pagulayan flexing his biceps and performing a running man dance for the cameras directly after sinking the 9 ball for the match win. "I think I've finished in every place here except first," he said. Pagulayan was a finalist in the 2006 World Pool Masters, but lost to German Ralf Souquet.[16]
"The Lion" Pagulayan beat Joven Bustamante on June 15, 2008, to win the P 300,000-Magnificent 7 Winner-Take-All 9-Ball Invitational second qualifier in Mandaue City, Cebu for the December grand final. He was set for the June, 2nd leg of the Sen. Manuel Villar Cup in Cebu City.[17]
Alex Pagulayan, 30, received the $15,000 check, as he defeated Dennis Orcollo, 11–6, to win the 4th leg of the Guinness 9-Ball Tour at the Velocity at Novena Square, Singapore. Pagulayan beat the 2005 world title winner, Wu Chia Ching, 9–6, while Orcollo defeated Yang Ching-Shun, 9–8. Orcollo settled for the runner-up purse of $6,000.[18][19]
In 2011, Alex Pagulayan defeated Floyd Ziegler 6–0 to win the final of the 2011 Canadian Amateur Championship, in his return to competitive snooker, he successfully defended the title in 2012 and became a Canadian citizen.[20]
In 2014, Pagulayan entered the Snooker Q School in order to qualify for main tour events. He participated in qualifying for the 2014 Wuxi Classic, but lost his match to world number 14 Stephen Maguire. Days later he took part in the qualifying for the next ranking event on the Snooker tour, the Australian Goldfields Open, but lost the first qualifying round 5–1 to Ian Burns. In qualifying for the next ranking event, the Shanghai Masters, he lost to John Astley.
In 2016, Pagulayan was crowned champion of the 2016 Canadian 9-Ball Championship held in Quebec, Canada after he tumbled John Morra in the championship match, 15–6. Pagulayan would remain undefeated in all of his matches, including a semifinals victory over Alain Martel in the tournament.[21]
He also won the 2017 CSI U.S Open 8-Ball Championship against Shane Van Boening.
Lawsuit
[edit]Pagulayan filed a libel and P 6 million damages action with Pasig Regional Trial Court on July 14, 2008. He sued Yen Makabenta and Ernesto Fajardo, the officials of the Billiards and Snookers Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) who had accused him of "sharking" (distracting his opponent to win, at the Singapore leg Guinness 9-Ball Tour), in addition to being a "disgraceful loser" and a "liar".[22]
Switch to Canada
[edit]In 2012 Pagulayan began representing Canada in international competitions. His agent reportedly said during the 2012 World Cup of Pool that Pagulayan encountered fewer "political obstacles" in representing Canada[23] while the pool player himself said that he switched to representing Canada due to competition with other Filipino players. He made the move in order to continue his professional career, which he stated was his livelihood. At the 2012 World Cup of Pool, he, along with partner John Morra, finished in the Round of 16, and was eliminated by Filipino pair Francisco Bustamante and Efren Reyes.[24]
Personal life
[edit]Despite his 2004 relocation to the Philippines, Pagulayan still officially has a mailing address in Canada. In March 2007, when asked where he resides in a Pool Billiards News interview, Pagulayan jokingly replied, "My suitcase. Yes. That's where I live right now – out of my suitcase."[25]
Aside from pool, Alex also plays poker, chess and basketball, and is friends with poker star Daniel Negreanu. He is a big fan of the band Texas.
Titles and achievements
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References
[edit]- ^ "Greatest Players of All Time". Billiards and Pool Principles, Techniques, Resources. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- ^ Atonibai (November 11, 2021). "TOP 10 Greatest One Pocket Players of All Time". Atonibai. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- ^ "Best One Pocket Player?". One Pocket and Bank Pool. June 30, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- ^ "Pagulayan Accuses BSCP of Getting Back at Him" Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine 2007-07, Filipinopool.com. Accessed August 11, 2007
- ^ "Alex 'The Lion' Pagulayan" Archived June 20, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, PoolBilliardNews.com. Accessed August 11, 2007.
- ^ 23rd SEA Games Winners and Losers[permanent dead link], Editorial, The Sunday Times, December 11, 2005. Retrieved June 18, 2007
- ^ "Footage of the six ball break shot and its aftermath". YouTube. Archived from the original on April 28, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
- ^ Pagulayan wins U.S. Open Archived June 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, '"AzBilliards.com. Retrieved June 18, 2007
- ^ Pagulayan Wins Carolinas Open Nine-ball Division Archived November 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, AzBilliards.com. Retrieved June 18, 2007
- ^ Hohmann Wins World Title Archived June 7, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, by Mike Panozzo, BilliardsDigest.com, July 20, 2003. Retrieved June 18, 2007
- ^ Pagulayan Crowned World Champion Archived March 26, 2007, at the Wayback MachineAzBilliards.com, Retrieved June 18, 2007
- ^ Alex Pagulayan Wins Opener in BSCP National Pool Championship Archived April 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, by Marlon Bernardino, AzBilliards.com. Retrieved June 18, 2007
- ^ "Straight Pool Challenge at Derby City" Archived November 16, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, by Bob Jewett, Professor-Q-Ball's National Pool & 3-cushion News, 2006; accessed February 11, 2007
- ^ Pagulayan Sails Through at Billiard Factory World Summit of Pool Archived June 20, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, InsidePOOL.com, June 2007. Retrieved June 18, 2007
- ^ Shane Van Boening vs. Alex Pagulayan Live Update Archived June 20, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, TheActionReport.com. Retrieved June 18, 2007
- ^ Lion Wins World Pool Masters Archived June 24, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, AzBilliards.com. Retrieved May 12, 2008
- ^ www.abs-cbnnews.com, 'The Lion' conquers Mandaue 9-Ball tilt[permanent dead link]
- ^ mb.com.ph, Pagulayan ends Taipei's reign in Guinness Tour
- ^ "inquirer.net, Gallego reigns in Villar Cup". Archived from the original on July 30, 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
- ^ "2011 Canadian Championships Details | Snooker Canada". February 8, 2011. Archived from the original on March 8, 2011. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
- ^ a b "Pagulayan rules Quebec 9-ball". Manila Times. May 20, 2016. Archived from the original on May 22, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
- ^ "gmanews.tv, Alex Pagulayan files P6-M libel case vs 2 pool officials". Archived from the original on May 4, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2008.
- ^ Terrado, Reuben (September 4, 2012). "Reason behind Pagulayan switch". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Archived from the original on July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
- ^ Lozada, Mei-Lin (September 7, 2012). "'The Lion' still a Pinoy at heart". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Archived from the original on July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
- ^ "Alex 'The Lion' Pagulayan" Archived June 20, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, PoolBilliardNews.com, March 12, 2007. Retrieved June 18, 2007
- ^ "One Pocket HOF Induction of Bustamante & Pagulayan at Buffalo's!!". One Pocket and Bank Pool. May 9, 2024. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- ^ Clark, Christopher (April 22, 2016). "Alex Pagulayan crowned 2016 U.S. Open One Pocket Champion". On Cue News. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
External links
[edit]
- Canadian pool players
- 1978 births
- People from Isabela (province)
- Canadian sportspeople of Filipino descent
- Filipino emigrants to Canada
- Naturalized citizens of Canada
- Filipino pool players
- Living people
- Trick shot artists
- World champions in pool
- Canadian snooker players
- SEA Games gold medalists for the Philippines
- SEA Games medalists in cue sports
- WPA World Nine-ball Champions
- Competitors at the 2005 SEA Games