The Reyes Cup

Notes on day three:

The Asian players have broken better and gotten better looks after the break. They have made far fewer mistakes on shots, position play or safeties.

Every European player has made big mistakes at critical junctures - too many to list. The worst Asian player has been better than the best European player - and I can't even tell if someone on Europe has stood out.

Europe obviously misses Filler, but just as important, Ouschan. He's been a steadying influence and good performer in the Mosconi.

Team Asia has been steady. No one has been spectacular, but they have all been pretty consistent.

Yapp is MVP at this point. He was really nervous the first day, and said so, but he's grown very confident. Reminds me of a cross between a cuddly Teddy Bear and The Chief in Cuckoo's Nest. Once he got going like The Chief ...

Biado has steeled up the last day and a half after a shaky beginning. He chalked it up to nerves, too.

Huong has missed some shots, but aside from a hung 7 in the team game on Day One, he has been solid. Even his misses have been tough shots. He's been the second or third best player on Asia.

Ko and Chua have had their moments, but neither has been great.

Fun to see usually quiet and reserved Asian players having so much obvious joy.
 
jbart65 said:
No, the concerns are not justified. They are just stupid.
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Ignorance is bliss.

jbart65 said:
Humans are naturally conspiratorial minded, and all this reinforces to me is that it's a universal condition.
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So altruistic interstellar aliens run the show?


jbart65 said:
I have seen every match all three days. Yes, this is a genuine competitive endeavor. If you have to ask, what can I say? Nothing. No sense in trying to persuade the irrational to be rational.
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Like I said, no complicity required.
Quick frinstense:
Euros can friggen play. They take it to a professional level. What do you imagine they're struggling against in these short races?
Can't be incompetence. See previous observation.
Politics? The requirement is clearly stated on the label - 'Inaugural' no less.
Ever wonder why all these dedicated and winning pros can't get to square one in a public engagement?

I already stated my assessment. It's a <SHOW>. Guess what that means on the world stage.
 
java712 said:
Your people probably just either salty non-chi participants or lost a lot of money betting.

Pool is big already in Asia no need for any BS marketing, plus Asia has always been and will always be favorites.
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mainland chinese being salty towards taiwanese, vietnamese or pinoys wouldn't be a first.

as you say asia is crazy good, and DEEP. team asia doesn't even have ko ping chung on the team.. or any of the mainland chinese players for that matter. and then you look at the filipino regrowth, guys like aj manas, bernie and jb sucal.. asia is going to be tough action for years.
 
When Team Europe grew into a force to be reckoned with and beat Team USA several years in a row, aside from their strength and skills, I attributed their wins to a strong team spirit and unity. Team USA lost that along the way, though today I do see a better team unity in Team USA than previous years.

That said, I have not seen the team unity with Team Europe this week. Maybe it is because of the back-to-back events, with the Reyes Cup starting a couple days after the Hanoi Open. But seeing the players sitting on the bench, some of them look like this is a big joke, and others have a deer-in-headlights look. It's as if Team Europe is on vacation and not devoting their energies to the win as they had when Coach Johan Ruijsink was in charge. Team Asia has knitted together a strong team, ready to take on the world, and they have.

I'm sorry that this event has been so one-sided. I wish Team Europe took it more seriously, but it looks like they're just enjoying a paid vacation in Philippines. Just my opinion, of course.
 
JAM said:
But seeing the players sitting on the bench, some of them look like this is a big joke ... It's as if Team Europe is on vacation and not devoting their energies to the win as they had when Coach Johan Ruijsink was in charge ... I wish Team Europe took it more seriously, but it looks like they're just enjoying a paid vacation in Philippines. Just my opinion, of course.
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Come now. The idea that an Alcaide, a Shaw, an FSR, heck, even a young and hungry Krause are not trying ... I've watched all these players enough the past two years to know they are giving it their best. These guys are all prideful and hyper-competitive. It's not joke or just a show for them.
 
jbart65 said:
Come now. The idea that an Alcaide, a Shaw, an FSR, heck, even a young and hungry Krause are not trying ... I've watched all these players enough the past two years to know they are giving it their best. These guys are all prideful and hyper-competitive. It's not joke or just a show for them.
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If you re-read my post, I said there was no team unity or team spirit as there was when Coach Johan was in the mix. Did not say they were not trying. I did say it seemed like they were in vacation mode compared to the other Cups I have seen.
 
Score!

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jbart65 said:
Europe obviously misses Filler, but just as important, Ouschan. He's been a steadying influence and good performer in the Mosconi.
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Ya think? Gorst, Filler, and Ouschan have combined for five golds and two silvers at the World 9-ball since 2014. Team Europe at the Reyes Cup has combined for one gold and one silver at the World 9-ball in the same period. Who would be dumb enough to measure the state of European pool by the performance of a team that doesn't have any of Gorst, Filler or Ouschan?
 
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sjm said:
Europe going to bat without Gorst and Filler at the Reyes Cup is like the 1927 Yankees playing without Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. ***

Wonder how many asterisks the AZB participation police will award the Asian team, provided it holds on and closes the deal.

*** For non-baseball fans, in 1927, the Yankees had the two best players in baseball, both considered on the short list of the best baseball players of all time.
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With Gorst being in the process of becoming US citizen would he have been eligible for this? If he was i'm sure he'd have been on team. Filler would have helped but based on the little i saw they would have needed three Fillers. They got hammered.
 
In theory an investor using British or US Dollars in the Philippines buys a lot more than it would in the US or parts of Europe.

Matchroom invested in geographic locations of varying cost and time of year.

These installations to their assets suggest it is building an infrastructure.

The Reyes Cup finalizes that partnership in the PI.

The IPT never went international the way Matchroom is. All the surprises have been from Matchroom.

What is next?
 
A completely different Team Europe today. It's a new day, and they just might give Team Asia a run for their money. You can see them giving it their all. Time will tell.
 
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Entire event game scores (at end of day 3):
Asia 57
EU 39
Asia performing at a +55 point FargoRate vs Europe.



Day 1 game scores:
Asia 22
EU 19

Day 2 game scores:
Asia 20
EU 11

Day 3 game scores:
Asia 13
EU 9
 
Efren Reyes is happy. How cool is it to be present at an event named in your honor.

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Team Asia (Duong Quoc Hoang and Ko Pin Yi) win against Team Europe (Mickey Krause and FSR). Team Asia on the hill for the Cup.

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It's do our die now for Team Europe. Team Asia 10, Team Europe 4. The ball is in Jayson Shaw's hands to keep Team Europe alive.

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