It looked like a foregone conclusion after day one, too.
The real problem with this event is that there is no rivalry here. Nobody views Asia as their rival at pool. The reason that the Mosconi Cup worked so well was because pool took off in the early 2000s in Europe and it was clear that the Europeans were gaining on the often-conceited Americans.
It meant everything to Team Europe when they beat Team America, and once they started to make a habit of it, the Mosconi meant everything to Team USA, which sought redemption and revalidation.
The humble, but sharpshooting Asians have no rival at pool. Efren, for whom this event is named, has always been a symbol of the humble excellence with which the top Asian cueists are associated.
I think I'd watch with more enthusiasm if it were Philippines vs Rest of Asia.
Yapp, Ko Ping Chung, Ko Pin Yi, Duong and Oi
vs
Biado, Chua, Raga, Regalario, Roda
would be very close.
