Key takeaways
- The third Reyes Cup, Team Asia against Team Rest of the World, is scheduled for October 15–18, 2026 at Makati Coliseum in Manila, Philippines.
- Francisco “Django” Bustamante returns as Team Asia captain. AJ “Starboy” Manas, Robbie Capito and Carlo Biado are confirmed, with two places still to be named.
- Team Asia has won both previous editions, including an 11–3 rout in 2025 when Manas was named MVP.
- The event streams live on WNT TV.
When and where
The 2026 Reyes Cup, the third edition of the team event named after Efren “Bata” Reyes, will be played from October 15 to 18 at Makati Coliseum in Manila. It is Team Asia against Team Rest of the World, the same shape as the first two editions, and it will stream live on WNT TV, according to AZBilliards.
For fans in North America, think of it as the Mosconi Cup’s younger sibling: the same team format, with Asia’s best in place of Team USA. Team Rest of the World had not named its captain when Asia’s first picks were announced at the end of September, so expect more team news before the break-off.
Team Asia so far
Francisco “Django” Bustamante is back as Team Asia captain, and his first confirmed pick is a familiar one: AJ “Starboy” Manas returns as a captain’s pick after being named MVP of the 2025 event. Robbie Capito and Carlo Biado are also confirmed, with two more places still to be filled.
Capito arrives in form. A month ago he reached the final of the 2026 US Open in Texas, losing a hill-hill thriller to Francisco Sánchez Ruiz. Both finalists are expected in Manila on opposite sides, which gives the week a ready-made rematch.
Manas was a teenage rookie when he played last year, and he left as the standout player of the week. Coming back as the defending MVP is a different kind of pressure, and how he handles it is one of the stories to follow.
What happened last time
Team Asia won the 2025 Reyes Cup 11–3 at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila, with Bustamante captaining Asia and American veteran Jeremy Jones leading the Rest of the World. The 2025 event ran over four days and 14 matches, mixing doubles and singles.
That made it two from two for Asia, who also won the inaugural 2024 edition. For the Rest of the World, the job in 2026 is to turn a hostile Manila crowd into a closer contest.
From the workshop
Team events show a side of pool you rarely see on the regular tour. Players share a bench, scout each other’s opponents and carry the whole team’s pressure to the table. In doubles especially you get to watch two very different games side by side: one player’s break and cue ball control next to another’s, and the equipment choices that go with them.
It is also the format most of our customers actually play. If you shoot on a league team in the US or Canada, the Reyes Cup is your Tuesday night with a bigger crowd. And if you want a cue built around your own game rather than pulled off a shelf, you can design one with us.
Quick answers
When is the 2026 Reyes Cup?
October 15–18, 2026, at Makati Coliseum in Manila, Philippines.
Who is on Team Asia for the 2026 Reyes Cup?
Captain Francisco Bustamante has confirmed AJ Manas, Robbie Capito and Carlo Biado, with two more places to be announced as of late September 2026.
Who won the 2025 Reyes Cup?
Team Asia beat Team Rest of the World 11–3 in Manila in October 2025. AJ Manas was named MVP.
How can I watch the 2026 Reyes Cup in the US?
The event streams live on WNT TV.
Sources
- Starboy Returns – MVP Manas Set To Defend Reyes Cup Trophy, 15–18 October (AZBilliards, September 28, 2026)
- Sanchez Ruiz Makes History With Second US Open Title After Epic Hill-Hill Thriller (AZBilliards, August 31, 2026)
- 2025 Reyes Cup (Wikipedia)
- Asia inflict Reyes Cup rout on Rest of World to retain title as teenage rookie Manas earns MVP (Absolute Pool, October 19, 2025)
Written by the Muraki workshop team in our own words from the reports above. Results and figures are as reported by those sources at the time of publishing. Spot something wrong? Tell us and we will correct it.
Play the game, then build the cue
Every Muraki cue is turned, inlaid and finished by hand in our workshop, then numbered and shipped to players across the US, Canada and worldwide. Tell us how you play and we will quote one for you, usually the same day.
