Pagulayan’s best friend

World pool champion Alex Pagulayan left Manila last Monday to play in tournaments in New York and Connecticut where he hopes to pick up a combined purse of $70,000 before returning here late this month.

On the way to the East Coast, Pagulayan made a three-hour stop in Hawaii where his half-Filipina, half-Korean girlfriend Phoebe and their one-year-old daughter Nala live.

Bureau of Immigration commissioner Al Fernandez saw off Pagulayan who was upgraded to first class all the way to New York.

Last Thursday, Pagulayan paid a courtesy call on President Arroyo in Malacanang. The Chief Executive gave the Isabela-born cue artist a bonus of P500,000 for capturing the world championship in Taipei a few weeks ago. The incentive would’ve been P2 Million if Pagulayan, wearing the Canadian colors, played for the Philippines as a Filipino. During the courtesy call, President Arroyo instructed the Bureau of Immigration to expedite Pagulayan’s application for a Philippine passport.

Fernandez immediately worked on Pagulayan’s citizenship. Before he left, Pagulayan signed documents to confirm his dual citizenship. As a 13-year resident of Toronto, he will keep his Canadian citizenship. Pagulayan was brought to Canada when he was 13.

Pagulayan pocketed the $75,000 first prize in Taipei where Django Bustamante was the oddsmakers favorite to win. Before the tournament started, Bustamante was an 8-1 bet, Efren (Bata) Reyes 9-1 and Pagulayan 12-1. In the quarterfinals, Pagulayan wasn’t even favored to advance. But in the finals, he was a 4-1 choice to clinch.

Pagulayan’s best friend Greg Debora, 21, said it wasn’t an easy victory for the wiry, spike-haired "Lion" who was almost knocked out in the last 64, surviving an 8-all tie with his opponent Andreja Klasovic breaking for the race-to-9 match. Pagulayan also battled back from 8-2 and 10-4 deficits to win in the finals.

Debora met Pagulayan in a Toronto pool hall five years ago. They’ve since been best friends. In Taipei, they shared two rooms with Canadian pool player Al Logan in the hotel.

Debora makes a living as a poker player and is at the card table at least 80 hours a week. Before heading to Taipei, Debora was in Las Vegas for three weeks playing poker. A highlight of his trip was playing in the $27 Million World Series of Poker. There were 2,700 entries paying a participation fee of $10,000. First prize was $5 Million.

"It was a tough tournament," said Debora. "You had to be in the top 227 to start earning prize money. Unfortunately, I finished in the top half of 1,400 but my friend, who wound up 23rd, won $120,000 and I had a 2percent share. After three weeks playing side games at casino tables, I netted about $40,000. Alex was in Las Vegas at the same time and took third place in a pool tournament. I think he won about $4,000 or $5,000."

Debora arrived here last June 17 then accompanied Pagulayan and Logan in Taipei. After the competition, Pagulayan invited Debora and Logan to return to Manila with him. Debora said he loves the Philippines and the Filipino people. Pagulayan even left ahead of him. Debora departs on Sunday. Logan left a week back.

"I love it in the Philippines," said Debora. "Alex invited me to come back in November. It’s a break from poker."

Debora described Pagulayan as a friend forever. "If he’s your friend, he’s a better friend to you than you are to him," he said. "Alex is the life of every party. He’s talkative. He’s always joking around. But he’s matured a lot. At the World Pool Championships in Cardiff last year, he stayed out late and got drunk the night before the finals. This year, he didn’t drink a drop of liquor during the entire tournament. He’s taking the game very seriously now. Last year, he won about $120,000 from pool. This year, I think he’s already gone over that."

In Taipei, Pagulayan won $75,000 but took home $60,000 net of 20 percent tax.

Debora said Pagulayan likes watching movies and playing basketball but loves eating. "He eats about 10 times a day," continued Debora. "He loves Filipino food and chicken feet. I don’t know where he stores all that food because he’s so skinny. Alex winning the world championship is the best thing that’s ever happened to pool. He’s the best ambassador for billiards. He’s a talented player. He’s young. He may be small but he stands out because of his personality."

More about Pagulayan and Debora in tomorrow’s column.