AJ Manas joined a star-studded Team Asia in the second Reyes Cup. They managed to post a 4-0 advantage over Team Rest of the World at the end of Day 1.
In a venue littered with legends and the world’s bests, AJ Manas was quite the star.
Manas didn’t disappoint the crowd at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium Thursday night, October 16.
[RELATED STORY: Reyes Cup Day 1: Team Asia silences Rest of the World, 4-0]
Against Skyler Woodward in the team match, the 19-year-old dubbed as “Starboy” pulled off a break and run as the Team Asia ultimately posted a 4-0 edge over Team Rest of the World after Day 1 of the Reyes Cup.
“Mas gumaan yung loob ko kasi naka 4-0 kami ngayong araw. Sana hanggang bukas magtuloy tuloy,” Manas told reporters after the match.
“Medyo masama lang yung laro nila kaya nakauna kami, so tinake advantage namin.”
After pocketing the 8-ball, Manas already knew a win was on the way as he turned to the crowd and raised his fist to the delight of the Filipino pool fans.
But Manas admitted he wasn’t as confident at the start of the tussle.
“Meron (kaba) naman kasi syempre ang daming nanonood tapos race-to-5 lang, maiksi lang race kailangan hindi i ka magkamali,” said Manas, who was getting the “AJ” chants at the start and end of the match.
On top of that, there’s also pressure to perform in front of Filipino billiards legend Django Bustamente as well as Asia’s best including teammate Carlo Biado, Johann Chua, and Aloysius Yapp.
But once the ball got going, Manas managed to overcome the jitters.
“Syempre nakaka-pressure kasi ako yung pinaka bata tapos first time ko yung ganitong event,” he said.
“Pero na-handle ko naman yung pressure so nakapaglaro akong maayos.”
Reyes Cup continues in Day 2 this Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. It also airs on RPTV and Pilipinas Live.
—
Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.