Hopes soar for Team Asia’s 19-year-old ‘Starboy’ in Reyes Cup bid

MANILA, Philippines — The sky is the limit for Starboy.

Filipino billiard icons Django Bustamante and Carlo Biado heaped praises on 19-year-old billiards prodigy AJ Manas, who was included in the title-defending Team Asia for the Reyes Cup.

Manas, one of the fastest-rising stars in the sport, was handpicked by team captain Bustamante for Team Asia, who will take on Team Rest of the World for the Reyes Cup starting Thursday.

Bustamante said that Manas has what it takes to be world champion in the future.

“Siya kasi yung pinakabatang player natin na gumagaling, e yung iba naman, nasa ranking naman sila, si AJ wala sa ranking, so binigyan ko siya ng wildcard, ako yung pumili sa kaniya. So, may tiwala naman ako kay AJ, kasi di ko naman kukunin ang isang player kung wala kang tiwala. So magaling na si AJ,” Bustamante said.

“Darating ang panahon, ito tandaan niyo, magiging world champion yung bata na yan. Kasi bata pa siya, magaling na. E lalo na pagka nabatak pa yan sa mga tournament at practice. Basta magiging world champion ang bata na yan,” he added.

Biado seconded this.

“Si AJ, future world champion natin yan. Napakalaking bagay niya sa Reyes Cup dahil siya yung tinututukan ng mga tao ngayon, lalo na sa mga kabataan dahil napakagaling ng bata na to,” he said.

“So napakalaking tulong sa kaniya itong exposure na ganito para mag-improve pa lalo yung game niya pero napakagaling ng bata na ito, hindi ako nag-aalala sa kaniya,” he added.

Bustamante, though, underscored that he would defeat Manas if his 19-year-old self faced off against the prodigy.

“Magaling na ko nun kasi nung araw naman kasi, puro pustahan lang e wala namang tournaments. Ngayon na lang dumarating yung mga tournaments. Compare mo ako kay AJ, talo ko siya nung araw na kasing edad ko siya,” he said.

“Mas malakas ang loob ko kasi nung bata ako, kahit saan ako pumunta dala ko yung tako ko at hindi ako nahihiya kahit kanino.”

WNT Nineball No. 1 Fedor Gorst and No. 17 Jayson Shaw seemingly tried to target Manas during the press conference, saying the youngster will “feel the heat” in the competition.

But Manas, while admitting pressure, voiced readiness to clash with some of the best.

“Siyempre po, nape-pressure ako kasi first time kong makasali sa ganitong event, lalo na reyes cup na dito gaganapin sa Pilipinas. Masaya ako na nakasama ako sa Team Asia, so gagawin ko yung lahat ng makakaya ko,” he said.

“Oo naman kasi magagaling din yung mga kalaban natin, so kailangan nating pag-igihan. Pakita natin kung gaano kalakas yung Team Asia,” he added.

Manas also relished the opportunity to learn from the legends.

“Napakalaking impact para sa akin kasi yung mga kasama ko, legend na e. Yung iba marami nang world title, so kailangan mabigyan nila ako ng tips or mga hindi ko alam na tira pero gagawin natin lahat.”

The Reyes Cup will run from October 16-19.