The Ninoy Aquino Stadium witnessed a historic victory as Team Asia clinched the gold in the first-ever Reyes Cup, defeating Team Europe 11-6 in a thrilling finale on Friday.
Named after billiard legend Efren 'Bata' Reyes, the tournament brought together some of the world's finest talents in a celebration of skill, strategy, and sportsmanship.
Team Asia, lead by Reyes, included Johann Chua and Carlo Biado from the Philippines, Duong Quoc Hoang from Vietnam, Ko Pin Yi from Taiwan, and Singapore’s Aloysius Yapp.
The day started with a tense match between Johann Chua and Spain’s David Alcaide. Chua's dry break initially gave Alcaide the upper hand. Despite several chances to recover, Chua's mistakes allowed Alcaide to win the match 5-4.
The second match featured Francisco Sanchez Ruiz and Mickey Krause from Europe against Duong Quoc Hoang and Ko Pin Yi from Asia. The European pair gained an early lead, but Ko and Duong fought back to win 5-3, bringing Team Asia closer to victory.
Jayson Shaw, the captain of Team Europe, faced Carlo Biado in the third match. Shaw took advantage of Biado’s errors, securing a 5-3 win and keeping Europe in the contest.
Shaw continued his strong form in his next singles match against Duong Quoc Hoang, quickly taking a 4-0 lead. Although Duong fought back, Shaw's precision ensured a 5-2 victory.
The final match saw Aloysius Yapp against Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, with Team Asia on the cusp of victory. Yapp capitalized on Ruiz's missed 7-ball to win the first rack.
Ruiz responded after Yapp scratched on the break, but Yapp quickly took control with strategic play and a break-and-run, leading 3-1. Forcing another foul from Ruiz, Yapp reached the hill and sealed the match with a final break-and-run, winning the Reyes Cup for Team Asia.
Yapp’s exceptional performance earned him the MVP award, highlighting his critical role in Team Asia's success.
