Why do Filipinos excel in Billiards?

Question

Whats in them?

Answer 1

a daunting ghost is guiding their spirits, and scares their opponents away

Answer 2

I'm not sure... why don't you dissect one to find out...

Answer 3

As an American living here in the P.I.,

1) The tables here are marble as opposed to slate. (easily broken) hence "no, jump shots". Learn the rails...

2) There are so many pool tables. (they don't take much room in a crowded environment). the average cost of a table is about  is about $600. Price for a game about $0.10. It is affordable.  

3) Efren "Bata" goes out for an evening (in a t-shirt and shorts), walks into a place and plays... "Just one of the guys." No "fan fare", just plays cards, chess or pool. He inspires the average uneducated Filipino, "You can make it" in a country with so much corruption, and so little hope of success.

4) Filipinos like to gamble….

Efren may have slept on the pool table in his uncle's pool hall ("Lucky 13"), But took his game to Angeles City (outside Clark Air Base) and played the "G.I.'s " to really get a grip on it. There are still kids hanging around to play now tourist.

Why are they so good? Inspiration, lack of formal education, desire to make it somehow. Before "Bata", Americans dominated the game.

Answer 4

Aside from natural talent.  Filipino kids below 18 play in illegal pool games.  Some, if not most of these children can beat opponents 15 to 20 times their age.

Answer 5

It's all in the genes. Chinese are the best in pingpong. White people in hockey. Black in basketball. Filipinos in billiards!

Answer 6

Probably for the same reason "blacks" excel in basketball.....nothing else to do and its a way out of that miserable island

Answer 7

NATURAL TALENT & THE WILL TO BE THE BEST IN WHAT THEY DO !!!!!!!!!1111

Answer 8

It's socioeconomic, just like Mickey Mantle says. It's not like the average kid in the RP has an opportunity to take up motorcross or sailing, etc etc. so they play pool.