I love that the kid who was so severely critizied showed up the way he did. He shut everyone up with his solid and superb play. AJ was pocketing balls cleanly and looked completely in his element out there. He actually led them to victory after Carlo got him out of line a couple of times.
He wasn't criticized. It was simply pointed out that no selection process based on merit could have possibly put him on the team. He had no high finishes in major tournament play in 2025, is #74 based on Fargo, and is not in the top 100 on the AZB money list.
Here's what I posted before this event started. "I hope AJ doesn't miss a ball. It would make for a great story. Still, even if he does that, he will have taken the Team Asia spot of many who are more deserving."
When interviewed before the event, Bustamante did not have an easy time justifying the pick, and it's a very safe bet that it wasn't his idea. Now, he's saying that Manas, yet to have a top 5 in a 9ball major, is sure to win a world championship soon. Lest we forget, it took Reyes until age 45 and Bustamante himself until age 46 to win a World 9ball.
It's Matchroom's every right to promote the brand that is AJ Manas, but the prediction that a player who has no accomplishments in the junior WPA World championships and also no high finishes as a pro is a sure world champion is off the wall. No way that Manas is one of the ten strongest teenaged players I've ever watched. Even his fellow Filipino Bernie Regalario, now 20 years old, already has a bronze medal at the World 9ball on his playing resume.
This is a case where I'd love to be wrong, for I like Manas and wish him well, but I'm not subscribing to this inexplicable hype that will now prove a burden for a kid that's not quite ready to beat the best at the majors. Let him prove me wrong by reaching Day 6 at the Philippines Open. If he does, I'll cheer as loudly as anyone.