Filipino billiards player AJ Manas. Handout/Cignal-One Sports
MANILA – Team Asia moved closer to defending its Reyes Cup crown with another dominant performance on the second day of the tournament.
The defending champions which include Filipinos Carlo Biado, Johann Chua, and AJ Manas, Singapore's Aloysius Yapp, and Vietnam's Duong Quoc Hoang stormed to a 7-0 lead over Team Rest of the World.
They once again swept all three matches on Day 2 of the Reyes Cup on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila.
Under the bright lights of the arena, it was "Starboy" that shined for Team Asia, in front of the competition's namesake Efren "Bata" Reyes.
Teen prodigy AJ Manas proved why he was a worthy choice, playing vital roles in all three wins, including an upset over World No. 1 Feder Gorst in the singles match.
Manas pulled off a 5-4 victory over Gorst, playing with composure against the World No. 1 player. The 18-year-old pulled ahead but Gorst fought back to level the score at 4-all.
Manas capitalized on a costly foul from the American, completing an upset over Gorst.
In the first match, Team Rest of the World looked poised to get their first win with a two-rack lead powered by Gorst and Jayson Shaw. But Duong and Manas fought back to keep Team Asia at bay.
At the height of the hill-hill battle, Manas stayed calm under pressure to sink the nine-ball and get the win for Team Asia.
Manas was not done yet, he teamed up with Chua in the final match of the day against Gorst and Shaw. Their opponents had the early momentum, but Chua's jump shots and Manas' composed shots ultimately held off Team Rest of the World.
Team Asia maintains its grip on the lead, putting Team Rest of the World in a tougher position to deny them another Reyes Cup title.