Asia return to their Filipino fortress as they seek a third consecutive Reyes Cup success against a much-improved Rest of the World team.
Francisco Bustamante will lead the formidable Asian force into battle, attempting to complete a Reyes Cup three-peat and maintain their undefeated record as the event takes place for a third time in the Philippines.
Despite being depleted in comparison to previous years and without the likes of Aloysius Yapp, Ko Pin-Yi and Johann Chua, Carlo Biado and Duong Quoc Hoang both return alongside last year’s MVP in AJ Manas.
Carlo Biado
WNT ranking: 2
FargoRate: 840 (11th)
Insidesp.in Rating: 749.3 (21st)
Race to Reyes Cup earnings: $24,500
Reyes Cup experience: Two appearances (2024, 2025)
Overall: 9-4
Singles: 2-1
Doubles: 3-1
One of only two ever-presents in the Asian fraternity, two-time world champion Carlo Biado sunk the winning nine ball to cap off an undefeated campaign 12 months ago.
Now in an Asian team without the likes of Ko Pin-Yi, Johann Chua and Aloysius Yapp, Biado will have a pivotal role to play should Asia reign supreme once more. His influence and experience will be crucial in a relatively inexperienced group.
Robbie Capito
WNT ranking: 11
FargoRate: 828 (20th)
Insidesp.in Rating: 751.9 (17th)
Race to Reyes Cup earnings: $71,775
Reyes Cup experience: Debut
Overall: 0-0
Singles: 0-0
Doubles: 0-0
Robbie Capito makes his Reyes Cup bow following a run to the US Open final which involved wins over Rest of the World rivals Aleksa Pecelj and Fedor Gorst – the latter of whom he possesses an astonishing record against individually.
Former UK Open champion Capito enters uncharted territory in the teams environment and it’s therefore difficult to predict how the Hong Kong star will fare. He does, however, have plenty of doubles matches under his belt this year alongside his girlfriend, the 2025 women’s world champion Seo Seoa.
Duong Quoc Hoang
WNT ranking: 21
FargoRate: 834 (14th)
Insidesp.in Rating: 764.5 (8th)
Race to Reyes Cup earnings: $22,400
Reyes Cup experience: Two appearances (2024, 2025)
Overall: 9-3
Singles: 2-1
Doubles: 3-1
Nobody on the Rest of the World’s unbelievable team holds a winning record against Duong Quoc Hoang – not Joshua Filler, not Fedor Gorst, nobody – and he was crowned Premier League champion earlier in this year in the same race-to-five format.
Vietnam’s greatest cueist has become the man for the big occasion and a player who has become synonymous with the Reyes Cup. If there’s anyone who the inception of this event has benefited, it’s certainly Duong and he will be a pivotal figure for Asia this week.
Albert Januarta
WNT ranking: 33
FargoRate: 819 (36th)
Insidesp.in Rating: 768.4 (6th)
Race to Reyes Cup earnings: $25,900
Reyes Cup experience: Debut
Overall: 0-0
Singles: 0-0
Doubles: 0-0
18-year-old Albert Januarta has thoroughly earned his opportunity as a Reyes Cup rookie. The Indonesian phenom has experienced a breakthrough year, demonstrating himself as one of the very best on the World Nineball Tour with Florida Open and Arizona Open quarter-finals and a run to May’s Scottish Open final.
Despite him lacking experience in this particular environment and in an event of this magnitude, Januarta does have his Premier League semi-final to carry into his Reyes Cup debut. In the same race-to-five format, he beat the likes of Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, Aloysius Yapp, Eklent Kaci and Robbie Capito.
AJ Manas
WNT ranking: 54
FargoRate: 806 (61st)
Insidesp.in Rating: 722.3 (52nd)
Race to Reyes Cup earnings: $16,600
Reyes Cup experience: One appearance (2025)
Overall: 6-1
Singles: 1-0
Doubles: 3-0
AJ Manas was exceptional in an undefeated debut campaign in singles and doubles matches, receiving the MVP award and fulfilling the trust provided by captain Francisco Bustamante. However, there’s much more pressure on the 19-year-old’s shoulders this time around, having received a pick ahead of world number one Aloysius Yapp, the 2024 MVP.
The Filipino teenage sensation, who was unfortunate not to make the Florida Open quarter-finals in August after a 10-9 loss to Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, will be brimming with confidence, reaching the World 10-Ball Doubles Championship final alongside Carlo Biado just last week.
