FSR has played badly and will be the first to admit it. Sky has actually played ok under pressure - he's been unlucky and it's really hard to play your best when you are under the gun and getting unlucky.
2025 Reyes Cup, Oct 16-19, Manilla. Team Asia vs Team World
- Thread starter jbart65
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The Mosconi sells thousands of tickets because of the hype and the fact that generally, pool players in America and Britian are not as good relative to the Phillipines so you can sell them a substandard "contest." As SVB once pointed out, even the cleaner at the pool hall in the Philippines got game. You better bring a tournament that is worth paying for in the Philippines to get an audience.
This just in. A scotch doubles team having both the reigning World 9ball Champion and the reigning US Open 9ball Champion is tough to beat. 9-1.
Yowser, they've ended the session after three matches, although it was announced for five matches. Not that surprised but for those who showed up and saw just three matches, it's really not fair. To be realistic, though, if they let this go one more match, the folks at Matchroom understand that few would show tomorrow if the score were 10-1. Enough is enough!
Well played, Asia, but this event is a joke.
Yowser, they've ended the session after three matches, although it was announced for five matches. Not that surprised but for those who showed up and saw just three matches, it's really not fair. To be realistic, though, if they let this go one more match, the folks at Matchroom understand that few would show tomorrow if the score were 10-1. Enough is enough!
Well played, Asia, but this event is a joke.
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In my opinion, the scoreline mostly comes down to hunger and mindset. Team Asia just looks more driven. They're playing with pride, energy, and a real sense of purpose, like they have something to prove. You can see it in how focused and connected they are out there.
Team World, on the other hand, doesn't really have that same identity. "Rest of the World" sounds impressive on paper, but it's not a real team with shared motivation or rivalry towards Asia. There's no flag or story they're fighting for.
At the end of the day, Asia simply played better. They were sharper, more confident, and handled the pressure better. The hunger and quality of play are clearly reflected in the scoreline.
Team World, on the other hand, doesn't really have that same identity. "Rest of the World" sounds impressive on paper, but it's not a real team with shared motivation or rivalry towards Asia. There's no flag or story they're fighting for.
At the end of the day, Asia simply played better. They were sharper, more confident, and handled the pressure better. The hunger and quality of play are clearly reflected in the scoreline.
I addressed this in post #347.
Still with the coaching thing? Should JJ go in the back and smack all the balls off the table? Maybe curse the players out? There isn't some schematic advantage that can be implemented in pool. These are mostly veteran accomplished players, either they have it or they don't. If there is no self pride after being down, there is nothing else to be said
They are in the Philippines...wine, women, and song.
Why wouldn't they be smiling?
Oh, I forgot to mention they are getting FREE money to spend on wine, women, and song.
I would be smiling, too.
Why have JJ there if coaching means nothing at this point? Ah, the welfare check, got it.
Anyway, as many pointed out, the teams were named way too late for both coaches to be effective training wise. At this point, coaches are there to figure the best match ups and boost morale for their players.
I don't get it how people could argue that Miss Emily is a good promoter. She has to do much better.
Like I keep saying, "it is a Barnum and Bailey circus", not a pool tournament.
It is like exhibition boxing matches where over-the-hill ex-champs spar with upcoming champs.
You get a few uppercuts and left hooks, but it mostly is a hugfest and not a real boxing match.
Then they go out and celebrate with each other using the free money.
Couldn't agree less. It comes down to pedigree, and this was a huge mismatch on paper.
Team ROW
If you look at the five members of Team ROW, four of them have failed to live up to expectations in 2025. Fedor does not have a single title in either 9ball of 10ball this year, and Shaw, FSR, and Sky have all struggled in 2025. Only Neuhausen has had a good year in which he exceeded expectations. As a group, Team ROW has zero WNT major titles in 2025, and yet the only two non-Asians that won a WNT major in 2025, Filler (European Open) and Labutis (Hanoi Open) were not included on the team.
Team Asia
The players on Team Asia combined for four WNT majors in 2025, including a World 9ball championship and a US Open 9ball championship. Yapp, with three WNT majors, is likely player of the year in 2025. Chua hasn't won a major this year, but he won the Dubai event, the Battle of the Bull and he looked sharp in a bronze medal effort at the US Open 9ball. Duong had a solid year in which his WNT ranking climbed 12 spots. Manas was a surprise pick, but he has played well.
The Asian players are better than the Team ROW players, and it's nothing to do with desire or energy. This Asian team would probably win even if it desired to lose. They're that good!
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Yup, forgot about that one. On that occasion, Matchroom issued refunds for all sessions well in advance of the event. I remember getting mine!
It depends on the actual matches. Fedor beating Manas 9,0 in 5 matches would skew the results for ROW. I don't think your comparison is reasonable to conclude "very close " without looking at the actual data.
Current form is another story, as is how the stars of Asia have performed against the stars of ROW over the past calendar quarter. The members of Team Asia have been on fire at the majors in the last few months, and every time an Asian has met a non-Asian player in a major final, they have won.
In July, Biado won World 9ball by beating Gorst in the final
In August, Yapp won the Florida Open by beating SVB
In August, Yapp won the US Open 9ball by beating Gorst in the final
And just for good measure, Ko Ping Chung just won the World 10ball by beating Kazakis in the final
To my knowledge, the only time a non-Asian player beat an Asian player in the final of one of the majors this year was when Filler topped Oi at the WNT European Open. I guess he was omitted from Team ROW because he was overqualified.
The ROW players have not been getting it done in the biggest spots against Asia in 2025. They have continued this practice at this year's Reyes Cup, where they continue to struggle against Asian's best in big spots.
Asia are the real champions, whether you think so or not. Of course, this can change with time, but for now, it's best to give these Asian superstars their due.
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