Rest of the World end Asia's reign with 11-4 Reyes Cup win in Makati
Ralf Souquet's Rest of the World team won the Reyes Cup for the first time, beating holders Asia 11-4 at the Makati Coliseum. Sanchez Ruiz was named MVP.
Asia's hold on the Reyes Cup is over. The Rest of the World team, captained by German great Ralf Souquet, beat the two-time holders 11-4 at the Makati Coliseum in Metro Manila on Sunday 18 October, winning the nine-ball team event for the first time in its third edition.
A slow start, then a flood
It did not begin well for the visitors. Asia won the opening two matches of the week before Rest of the World levelled at 2-2 by the end of the first day. From there the momentum swung sharply. Rest of the World won four of the five matches on day two to lead 6-3, and three of four on day three to move 9-4 ahead, needing only two more points on the final day to reach the winning mark of 11.
In total, Rest of the World won 11 of the 13 matches that followed their two early defeats, according to 77 Billiards.
How the title was sealed
Sunday opened with a team match, which Rest of the World won 5-3 to reach 10-4. Joshua Filler played a key role, making a combination on the nine-ball to move his side to the brink, while Aleksa Pecelj also struck an important combination shot in the same match.
The clinching point came in the closing doubles. Francisco Sanchez Ruiz and Shane Van Boening trailed early against Robbie Capito and Vietnam's Duong Quoc Hoang, but a missed ball from the Asian pair opened the door and the Rest of the World duo ran away with five straight racks to win 5-1. Sanchez Ruiz potted the final nine-ball.
Sanchez Ruiz named MVP
The Spaniard was named the event's Most Valuable Player, finishing unbeaten in his singles and doubles appearances. He won both his team's first and last points of the week. He follows Singapore's Aloysius Yapp (2024) and the Philippines' AJ Manas (2025) as the event's third MVP, and is the first from the Rest of the World side.
Captain Souquet, in his first year in the role, stressed collective spirit after the win. "We're a team, and we can only win as a team," he said, as quoted by 77 Billiards. His side also included Fedor Gorst, the American Van Boening, Filler and the rookie Pecelj.
Asia's bright spots
For the home crowd the standout was Carlo Biado, who featured in all four of Asia's winning matches. He fought back from 3-1 down to beat Van Boening 5-3 in a day-two singles match and partnered Indonesia's Albert Januarta to a 5-3 doubles win over Filler and Gorst on day three.
Asia, captained by Filipino legend Francisco Bustamante, also fielded Capito, Manas, Duong and Januarta, giving the team a strong South-East Asian flavour. The side had won 11-6 against Europe in 2024 and 11-3 against the Rest of the World in 2025.
Straight on to the Philippines Open
There is little time to dwell on the result. The Philippines Open Pool Championship began on Tuesday 20 October at Gateway Mall in Quezon City and runs until Saturday 24 October, with Spain's David Alcaide defending the title. Several Reyes Cup players are in the field, giving Asia's stars an immediate chance at a response on home soil.
Key takeaways
- Rest of the World beat Asia 11-4 to win their first Reyes Cup on 18 October.
- The final point came from Sanchez Ruiz and Van Boening's 5-1 doubles win.
- Francisco Sanchez Ruiz was named MVP after an unbeaten week.
- Carlo Biado was involved in all four of Asia's match wins.
- The Philippines Open runs 20-24 October in Quezon City.
FAQ Q: Who won the 2026 Reyes Cup? A: Team Rest of the World won, beating Team Asia 11-4 at the Makati Coliseum in the Philippines.
Q: Who was the 2026 Reyes Cup MVP? A: Spain's Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, who went unbeaten in singles and doubles during the four days.
Q: How does the Reyes Cup format work? A: Two five-player teams play team, singles and doubles matches worth one point each, and the first side to 11 points wins.
Sources: 77 Billiards, Absolute Pool, bet365 News