Alex Pagulayan

Alejandro (Alex) Salvador Pagulayan, (born June 25, 1978) is a Filipino-Canadian professional pocket billiards (pool) player. His nicknames are "The Lion" and "The Killer Pixie". He was born in Cabagan, Isabela, Philippines and was raised in Toronto, Canada. In 2004, Pagulayan returned to the Philippines. [ [http://filipinopool.com/pros/index.shtml "The Professionals"] , "Filipinopool.com". Accessed 2007-08-11]

He is known for his relaxed demeanor during competition, and is a crowd favorite, well-liked because of his comedic interaction with the audience. [ [http://www.filipinopool.com/news/july/pagulayan.shtml"Pagulayan Accuses BSCP of Getting Back at Him"] 2007-07, "Filipinopool.com". Accessed 2007-08-11]

Early days

Pagulayan's parents emigrated to Canada when he was 13 years old. His father managed a pool hall, so Pagulayan's exposure to the game came early. Though he was attracted to others sports, he thought his stature may not have been right. "I like a lot of sports, but with pool, you don't have to be physically tough. His main hotspot was the pool hall "Loma's" [ [http://www.poolbilliardnews.com/article.php/20-03-2007Alex--The-Lion--Pagulayan.htm "Alex 'The Lion' Pagulayan"] , "PoolBilliardNews.com". Accessed 2007-08-11.]

Professional career

Pagulayan also has expertise in the pocket billiards game of snooker, and his capabilities enabled his Philippines 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. [ [http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2005/dec/11/yehey/opinion/20051211opi1.html 23rd SEA Games Winners and Losers] , Editorial, "The Sunday Times", December 11, 2005. Retrieved June 18, 2007]

Very skilled players in nine-ball have the tendency to sometimes pocket four or even five balls on the Cuegloss|Break|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. (But note that Rodolfo Luat also performed a similar feat in a Japanese tournament.) Pagulayan's break did not include the 9 ball, and despite the six ball advantage, he lost that game (to fellow countryman Santos Sambajon). [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKXykcdxJzM Footage of the six ball break shot and its aftermath] ]

In 2002, Pagulayan made it to finals of the US Open Nine-ball Championship, but was defeated by Ralf Souquet, 11–13. Three years later, he got another shot for the US Open Nine-ball Championship title and won it, defeating Jose Parica in the finals, 11–6. [ [http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.cfm?storynum=3046 Pagulayan wins U.S. Open] , '"AzBilliards.com". Retrieved June 18, 2007]

In 2003, Pagulayan went on the road in the United States with Canadian pool player Ronnie Wiseman to compete in pocket billiard tournaments. They both 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. [ [http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.cfm?storynum=1102 Pagulayan Wins Carolinas Open Nine-ball Division] , "AzBilliards.com". Retrieved June 18, 2007] Later in 2003, Pagulayan reached the finals of the World Nine-ball Championship. Unfortunately, he was bested by Thorsten Hohmann 10-17. [ [http://www.billiardsdigest.com/tournaments/index?tournament_id=10 Hohmann Wins World Title] , by Mike Panozzo, "BiliardsDigest.com", July 20, 2003. Retrieved June 18, 2007]

In 2004 in Taipei, Taiwan, Pagulayan captured the prestigious World Pool Championship title, representing Canada. The score was a 17–13 victory over Pei-wei Chang in the finals. [ [http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.cfm?storynum=1939 Pagulayan Crowned World Champion] "AzBilliards.com", Retrieved June 18, 2007]

In 2006, Pagulayan won the first national championship of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of Philippines (BSCP), besting Gandy Valle in the finals and earning P1,000,000 (US$20,639). [ [http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.cfm?storynum=4240 Alex Pagulayan Wins Opener in BSCP National Pool Championship] , by Marlon Bernardino, "AzBilliards.com". Retrieved June 18, 2007]

Not many pool players in the Philippines excel at or even play straight pool. For a number of years, Efren Reyes was the only Filipino player known to have made Cuegloss|Run|runs of 100 or more. However, at an demonstration match at the 2006 Derby City Classic in Kentucky, Pagulayan made a high run of 130, the second-highest of the event [http://www.professorqball.com/displaystory.php?RecordID=110 "Straight Pool Challenge at Derby City"] , by Bob Jewett, "Professor-Q-Ball's National Pool & 3-cushion News", 2006; accessed February 11, 2007] . This makes him the second Filipino player known to have run 100 balls in straight pool in controlled competition.

In 2007, 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 Cuegloss|Three foul rule|three-fouled him, resulting in a loss of game for Van Boening, Pagulayan advanced forward and captured the title in the final game, ending the match at 7–5. [ [http://www.insidepoolmag.com/billiard-tour-news/pool-tour-news/pagulayan-sails-through-at-billiard-factory-world-summit-of-pool-200706175043.html Pagulayan Sails Through at Billiard Factory World Summit of Pool] , "InsidePOOL.com", June 2007. Retrieved June 18, 2007] [ [http://www.theactionreport.com/liveupdate.html Shane Van Boening vs. Alex Pagulayan Live Update] , "TheActionReport.com". Retrieved June 18, 2007]

On May 11 2008, Pagulayan defeated Mika Immonen in the Matchroom Sports production of the World Pool Masters in a thrilling finals 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." Pagulayan was a finalist in the 2006 World Pool Masters, but lost to German Ralf Souquet. [ [http://www.AzBilliards.com Lion Wins World Pool Masters] , "AzBilliards.com". Retrieved May 12, 2008]

"The Lion" Pagulayan crushed 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 finals. He is set for the June, 2nd leg of the Sen. Manuel Villar Cup in Cebu City. [ [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=122009 www.abs-cbnnews.com, 'The Lion' conquers Mandaue 9-Ball tilt] ]

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@Novena Square, Singapore. Pagulayan blasted 2005 world titlist Wu Chia Ching, 9-6, while Orcollo defeated Yang Ching-Shun, 9-8. Orcollo who settled for the runner-up purse of $ 6,000. [ [http://www.mb.com.ph/SPRT20080728130949.html mb.com.ph, Pagulayan ends Taipei’s reign in Guinness Tour] ] [ [http://sports.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view/20080728-151084/Pagulayan-nips-Orcollo-for-title inquirer.net, Gallego reigns in Villar Cup] ]

Lawsuit

Pagulayan filed a libel and P 6 million damages complaint with Pasig Regional Trial Court's Second Assistant City Prosecutor Maria Anunciacion Hipol, on July 14, 2008, versus billiards officers Yen Makabenta and Ernesto Fajardo. The officials of the Billiards and Snookers Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) accused him of "sharking" (distracting one's opponent to win, at the Singapore leg Guinness 9-Ball Tour), in addition to "disgraceful loser" and a "liar." [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/106880/Alex-Pagulayan-files-P6-M-libel-case-vs-2-pool-officials gmanews.tv, Alex Pagulayan files P6-M libel case vs 2 pool officials] ]

Personal life

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!" [http://www.poolbilliardnews.com/article.php/20-03-2007Alex--The-Lion--Pagulayan.htm "Alex 'The Lion' Pagulayan"] , "PoolBilliardNews.com", March 12, 2007. Retrieved June 18, 2007]

Aside from pool, Alex also plays poker, chess and basketball.

Achievements

* 2008 World Pool Masters, Las Vegas, Nevada
* 2007 World Summit of Pool
* 2006 Philippine National Championship
* 2005 Philippines Snooker Team Gold Medal, SEA Games
* 2005 US Open Nine-ball Championship
* 2005 Derby City Classic Ten-ball Ring Game Champion
* 2005 SML Entertainment Nine-ball Champion
* 2004 WPA World Nine-ball Championship
* 2003 Joss Tour Grand Final Winner
* 2003 Carolinas Open Nine-ball Division, Goldsboro, North Carolina
* 2003 IBC Western Canadian Open
* 2002 World Pool Trickshot Champion

References

External links

* [http://www.worldpoolmasters.com/players/pagulayan.asp WorldPoolMasters Biography]
* [http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Results/2005SEAGames.htm Snooker Gold Medal]
* [http://www.inq7.net/spo/2004/jul/20/spo_1-1.htm Pagulayan champ]
* [http://www.snookerpool.net/alex-pagulayan-billiard-pool-player-profile-20061105/ Alex Pagulayan Profile]
* [http://www.billiardsdigest.com/current_issue/nov_04/index.php Lion Bared]
* [http://www.insidepoolmag.com/pool-and-billiard-podcasts/pool-podcasts-and-videos/billiards-alex-pagulayan-at-derby-city-classic-200801115813.html Alex Pagulayan interview on Xtrem Pressbox]