2025 Reyes Cup, Oct 16-19, Manilla. Team Asia vs Team World
- Thread starter jbart65
- Start date
Chua has definitely been the best, but the point system doesn't always ensure that the best player wins MVP. Last December at the Mosconi, FSR was undefeated and was the best player by far for Team Europe, but Shaw, who was not undefeated, got MVP on the point system.
Last edited:
By the time Europe started dominating, they already had the best players. Johan's 2 wins with USA I think were complete flukes.
too many opaque concepts to all fit into one event of race to five alternate break
I'd argue the coach's job was done once the teams were selected. It's not like he's going to revamp a pro player's stroke on the fly at the last minute. The only thing a coach can do is manage egos and personalities. So unless there's some evidence that JJ is messing with the team's psyches, then he isn't to blame one bit.
It's OK. We can agree to disagree.
This isn't football, where you sometimes throw out the original game plan offensively and /or defensively because it isn't working against the opponent in front of you.
In my opinion, these players all play high percentage pool and all have strong mental games. They don't need in-match or in-tournament coaching.
I'll back JJ to the end of the world here. He was given a team that left out the only two "rest of the world" winners of a 2025 WNT major (Filler, Labutis) and had to go to bat against a Team Asia that has combined to win a world 9ball championship and a total of four 2025 WNT majors.
Exactly.Johan’s coaching was exactly what Team USA needed to win, after 9 years of losing.
Jeremy was privy to all aspects of Johan’s coaching during those 2 winning years.
I gotta disagree. I think when Johan lead the squad they finally began training correctly. From a great Billiards Digest article I come back to all the time...
Link to article
"When Johan Ruysink was captain of the European Mosconi Cup squad a decade ago he would occasionally walk past the practice room of his American opponents, usually as a means to scout the competition. On occasion, the Dutchman would overhear conversations during team meetings that shocked him and sometimes gave him some sympathy for his fellow competitors.
"I was just sometimes flabbergasted about the way they prepared, about their knowledge, about their practice methods," Ruysink said. "Sometimes you walked by their practice room and you heard them discussing the break or the breaking format and I was just kind of surprised they didn't know what to do with it. Everybody had different solutions on the team. There was no real leader." "
Have to disagree here. Johan brought all of Team USA to train in his academy in Russia to prep for the Mosconi Cup. He also had them all compete in a solid-field pro event in Russia called the Kremlin Cup, as he watched and offered feedback. There is no question that the two biggest beneficiaries of Johan's tutelage in Russia were Woodward and Styer, and each performed well at the Mosconi under Johan.
Johan was big on preparation, but once the event began, his biggest focus was on ensuring good sportsmanship, which his teams always displayed.
8intheside
Well-known member
I don’t think coaching would make that much of a difference, especially how quickly the ROW team was put together. Team Asia has the better team. No need to over complicate it.
What really annoyed me today.
ROW down 5-0 and Fedor has just potted the 9 and gone level with AJ Manas at 4-4.
Skyler comes over and they start joking around and watching a video on the phone.
Fedor should be focused, not joking around before the break on hill-hill.
ROW are treating this like a holiday camp, and that stems from JJ (coach).
ROW down 5-0 and Fedor has just potted the 9 and gone level with AJ Manas at 4-4.
Skyler comes over and they start joking around and watching a video on the phone.
Fedor should be focused, not joking around before the break on hill-hill.
ROW are treating this like a holiday camp, and that stems from JJ (coach).
Badpenguin
Well-known member
The last time Johan coached the US team at the Mosconi, the US team won.
Care to explain that?
Will filler and Shane be off the Mosconi teams also? I believe they are qualified by money won. Who knows though what MR will decide.
Very good point. But I think there is a level of sports psychology that Johan brings to the table that Mark does not. I've had discussions with both of them (even a clinic with Mark way back) so thats my anecdotal take
Like 8intheside mentioned, the team was put together super quick so it feels more like a exhibition than a serious event.
8intheside
Well-known member
And for that reason i believe that’s why Sky was on the team. A guy who has a carefree attitude, one who puts the team as ease. But in my opinion this is where Shane and filler wouldn’t be been a better fit, all business 100 percent focus.
I give Johan most of the credit.
