Surprises expected in first ever Reyes Cup billiards event

(From L-R) Team Asia’s Johann Chua, Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes, Puyat Sports founder and owner Aristeo ‘Putch’ Puyat, Matchroom Multi Sport CEO Emily Frazer, Team Europe’s Karl Boyes, and Jayson Shaw. –HANDOUT PHOTO/CIGNAL

MANILA – Shockers could decide the outcome of the inaugural Reyes Cup which kicks off on Tuesday night at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Team Asia’s Johann Chua said during the pre-match press conference on Monday at the said arena to expect the unexpected when the de facto home team takes on Team Europe in the four-night billiards event.

“Starting tomorrow, once we are in the arena already, talent would be unleashed. It’s going to be a game of surprises. Whoever we stun tomorrow and who blinks first will lose,” Chua said in Filipino.

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Chua headlines Team Asia with fellow Filipino Carlo Biado, Singapore’s Aloysius Yapp, Vietnam’s Duong Quoc Hoang, and interestingly enough, Chinese Taipei’s Ko Pin-Yi, who he just beat on Sunday night in the Hanoi Open final.

This time, Chua wants to set that match against Ko aside and use their friendship to the entire team’s advantage against mighty Team Europe, composed of Scotland’s Jayson Shaw, Albania’s Eklent Kaci, Denmark’s Mickey Krause, and Spain’s Francisco Sanchez Ruiz and David Alcaide.

“Outside pool, we are friends. Our communication is great,” Chua said.

However, he added, “I hope we could get a much better bonding tomorrow in the arena and we could jive properly since that is the advantage of Europe over us because they are used to this format.”

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In rules similar to the Mosconi Cup, five race-to-five nine-ball matches will be played per day which would be divided among singles, doubles, and team.

Every match won by a player or a team equals one point for the entire continental squad, and the first continent to reach 11 points will be declared the overall champion.

If the series goes hill-hill, that is, 10-all after 20 matches, a sixth game for the day will be played on Friday night to serve as the Reyes Cup decider.

Efren “Bata” Reyes, after whom the Reyes Cup was named, will serve as Team Asia’s captain, while longtime Mosconi Cup veteran Karl Boyes will skipper Team Europe.

Just like in the Mosconi Cup, the captains will not be there as players but as de facto coaches for their respective teams. (PNA)