AJ Manas of Team Asia during a press conference for the Reyes Cup, October 15, 2025 in Mandaluyong. Handout/Cignal-One Sports
MANILA -- Still only 19 years old, AJ Manas has the opportunity of a lifetime as he is set to play alongside Filipino pool legends in the second edition of the Reyes Cup.
The teenager is part of Team Asia in the competition that is named after Filipino pool icon Efren "Bata" Reyes.
While Manas is admittedly feeling some pressure -- especially as the tournament is on home soil -- he is choosing to embrace the opportunity to step on the big stage.
"I'm proud to be here of the part of the team Asia. It's an incredible honor to be part of the Reyes Cup of course representing Team Asia. It has been one of my biggest dreams. So I'm excited for this," he said during a press conference on Wednesday.
"So I'm excited and I'm a little bit pressured, but I'm so happy to be part of this. We will try to get that trophy," the 19-year-old added.
As part of Team Asia, Manas will be playing alongside two-time World Pool champion Carlo Biado, UK Open and Florida Open Champion Aloysius Yapp, Vietnamese pool champion Duong Quoc Hoang and former Hanoi Open champion Johann Chua.
READ: Team Asia, Team Rest of the World looking forward to action, crowd engagement at Reyes Cup
"Siyempre, malaking bagay para sa akin na maka-practice ko sila, makasama ko siya sa Team Asia. So excited na ako para sa Reyes Cup," he said.
Manas said he did not expect to be personally chosen by Team Asia non-playing captain Francisco "Django" Bustamante.
"Pinick-up ko si AJ kasi siya yung young star natin na player. Magaling naman siya. Nakikita ko naman siya nakikipag tournament. Magaling siya. Kaya siya ang kinuha ko maglaro dito sa Reyes Cup. Saka nakasama naman siya na yung mga dati ang player natin, yung mga world champion. So susuportahan naman siya. At isa na ako dun," Bustamante said.
Bustamante, another legend of Philippine pool, expressed his full confidence in the teenager.
"Siya kasi yung pinakabatang player natin na gumagaling. Eh yung iba naman kasi nasa ranking naman sila. Si AJ wala sa ranking kaya binigay ako siya ng wild card. Ako yung pumili sa kanya. So, may tiwala naman ako kaya kay AJ kasi hindi ko na magukunin ang siya player kung wala lang wala kang tiwala," Bustamante said.
"Darating ang panahon, ito, tandaan ninyo magiging world champion yung bata ninyo. Kasi batapas yung magaling na. Yung lalo na pag nabatak pa yung sa tournament. Saka sa practice. Basta magiging world champion yung bata," he added.
READ: Bustamante, Jones named captains for Reyes Cup 2025
When asked who will win between him and Manas when they were the same age, Bustamante jokingly said he can beat the young gun.
Biado likewise underscored the value of adding the young Manas to Team Asia.
"Si AJ future world champion natin yan. Napalaking bagay niyan sa Reyes Cup. Dahil siya yung tinututukan ng mga tao ngayon, lalo na sa mga kabataan dahil napakagaling ng bata na ito. Napakalaking tulong sa kanya ito, itong exposure na ito para mag-improve palalo yung game niya," he said.
The 19-year-old vowed to give his best against Team Rest of the World, which includes pool icons Fedor Gorst, Jayson Shaw and non-playing captain Jeremy Jones.
Manas hopes his stint in the Reyes Cup will help him in the long run, as he is being eyed as one of the country's billiards prodigy.
Ahead of the Reyes Cup, Bustamante said he told his team to not feel the pressure by playing their normal game like they always do and enjoy.
The Reyes Cup will take place from October 16 to 19 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.