‘Starboy’ lights up pool table for Team Asia
A year ago, AJ Manas was just another kid in the crowd, watching his heroes on the Reyes Cup stage.
Now, he’s winning matches for them.
At just 18, Manas has emerged as Team Asia’s breakout star in the ongoing 2025 LIVESB.IO Reyes Cup, delivering clutch shots with poise beyond his years. The Filipino teenager potted the winning nine-ball in all three matches he played on Day 2, sealing a 7-0 lead for Team Asia and setting social media abuzz with talk of “Starboy” magic.
“Last year I was watching the Reyes Cup wishing I could be part of Team Asia—now I’m living that dream,” Manas, who is known as Starboy in pool circles, said. “I’m proud, but I’m not done yet. I want to help Asia finish this the right way.”
The Reyes Cup, named after pool icon Efren “Bata” Reyes, pits Team Asia against a stacked Team Rest of the World roster in a Mosconi-style format. For Manas, the invitation was a dream come true—but also a trial by fire. Critics questioned if he was ready for the big stage.
“People said he wasn’t ready,” said teammate Johann Chua. “Well, he’s proving them wrong.”
Manas answered that pressure with flair, combining raw talent and nerveless execution. In the opening match of the day, he and Vietnam’s Duong Quoc Hoang clawed back from two racks down before Manas buried the decisive nine-ball in a hill-hill finish.
It wasn’t a fluke. He’d do it again. And again.
“Team Asia is just too strong,” said legend Francisco “Django” Bustamante. “You could bring anyone—it won’t matter. Right now, nobody’s stopping Asia.”
Nobody’s stopping AJ Manas, either. Not bad for a kid who used to sit in the stands, dreaming.
