By MARK REY MONTEJO
There’s a new kid in town and his name is AJ Manas, and surprisingly, he wasn’t shy to express himself around the veterans.
The 19-year-old Manas makes his first-ever appearance as a member of Team Asia as they seek to complete their title defense bid against Team Rest of the World (ROW) in the 2025 Reyes Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila starting Thursday, Oct. 16.
“Team Rest of the World, you should all be ready,” said Manas during the competition’s press conference in Mandaluyong City Wednesday, Oct. 15.
“We’re ready, don’t worry about it,” current World No. 1 American Fedor Gorst quickly replied as the two teams duke it out for the coveted crown in the Efren “Bata” Reyes-inspired competition which slated Oct. 16 to 19.
“Pool players are treated like rock stars out here. It will definitely be more competitive this year with our combined team. For us, it is easy because we know each other and our strengths so well,” he added.
With non-playing Team Asia captain Francisco “Django” Bustamante at the helm, Manas takes the chance to compete against the best in the world as he reinforced veterans and multi-world champions Johann Chua, Carlo Biado, Singaporean Aloysius Yapp, and Duong Quoc Hoang.
“I have the best team, I have lots of experience of winning major events, I have no worries about my team and I hope this year we will lift the trophy again!,” Biado, the three-time world champ stressed.
“50/50 ‘to eh, pagandahan nalang sila ng tira, ang lamang lang natin dito gaganapin sa bansa… basta sino mas maganda tira, mas may tyansa rito,” said Bustamante.
However, the challenge from the other side was far from easy, with veteran cueist US’ Jeremy Jones serving as a skipper for Team ROW which is composed of global elites in debutants Gorst and German Moritz Neuhausen, American Skyler Woodward, Spaniard Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, and British Jayson Shaw.
“We are a different team this year, but I feel we are better prepared. When it is time we know what we bring, Asia will definitely feel the heat out there,” said seven-time Mosconi Cup titlist, Shaw, who is out to avenge his squad after last year’s downfall.
“Let’s see who handles it the best and may the best team win,” he added.
Compared to last edition, the Asian cue artists now face the combined talents from all across the globe, while the format is still similar to the Mosconi Cup with 21 games that consist of singles, doubles, and team events.
It can be recalled, Team Asia won the inaugural Reyes Cup held at the same venue with Biado, Chua, Hoang, Yapp, and Taiwanese Ko Pin-Yi shining under the guidance of sport icon Efren “Bata” Reyes.
They scored an 11-6 victory over erstwhile Team Europe which had Shaw, Spain’s David Alcaide and Sanchez Ruiz, Denmark’s Mickey Krause, and Albania’s Eklent Kaci
