Team Rest of the World Win 2026 Reyes Cup 11-4

Team Rest of the World won the 2026 Reyes Cup 11-4, defeating Team Asia at the Makati Coliseum to claim the trophy for the first time. Francisco Sanchez Ruiz pocketed the championship-winning 9-ball and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

Who won the 2026 Reyes Cup?

Team Rest of the World captured its maiden Reyes Cup by winning both matches on the final day. The decisive session turned a 9-4 overnight advantage into an emphatic 11-4 final score, ending Team Asia's two-year reign.

How did Team Rest of the World reach the hill in Match 14?

The five-player team match began with sharp swings. Carlo Biado put Asia in front after Johann Chua had leveled the contest, but Team Rest of the World responded through Fedor Gorst and debutant Aleksa Pecelj to move ahead 3-2.

Sanchez Ruiz then extended the lead before James Aranas kept Asia alive. Joshua Filler closed the match with a 7-9 combination, giving Team Rest of the World a 5-3 win and placing the challengers one point from the title at 10-4 overall.

The result reflected the broader pattern of the week: Asia created chances, but Rest of the World repeatedly converted the critical safety exchanges and punished missed opportunities.

How was the title-winning point secured?

Captain Ralf Souquet selected Sanchez Ruiz and Shane Van Boening for the potentially decisive doubles match against AJ Manas Capito and Duong Quoc Hoang. Asia won the opening rack, but the momentum changed quickly.

Van Boening's jump-shot scratch offered Asia an opportunity in the second rack, yet a missed 6-ball by Duong allowed Rest of the World to level. A strong Van Boening safety then forced a foul from Capito, helping the eventual champions take the lead.

Van Boening followed with a 4-9 combination and the pair added a break-and-run to reach the hill at 4-1. In the final rack, Sanchez Ruiz fluked the 2-ball and later completed the clearance, sinking the last 9-ball for a 5-1 victory and the championship.

Why was Francisco Sanchez Ruiz named Reyes Cup MVP?

Sanchez Ruiz delivered in the highest-pressure moments of the final session. He helped win the team match that moved Rest of the World to the hill, then partnered Van Boening in the title-clinching doubles contest.

His final 9-ball supplied the defining image of the tournament. The MVP award recognized both his match contributions and his ability to finish the job when the trophy was within reach.

How did the tournament change after Asia led 2-0?

Team Asia opened the competition with a 2-0 advantage, but Rest of the World immediately stabilized and finished Day One level at 2-2. From that point, Souquet's side controlled every remaining session.

After falling 2-0 behind, Rest of the World won 11 of the next 13 matches. Across the full event, the champions also finished with a 65-44 advantage in racks, a 21-rack margin that underlined how decisively the contest shifted.

What ended Team Asia's two-year Reyes Cup reign?

Rest of the World's depth proved decisive. Gorst, Filler, Van Boening, Sanchez Ruiz and debutant Pecelj all contributed points, while Souquet had multiple reliable combinations available for the team and doubles formats.

The champions were especially effective after mistakes. Fouls, dry breaks and missed balls were often converted into complete clearances or match-changing safety pressure, preventing Asia from building sustained momentum after its strong start.

For Team Asia, the 11-4 result was a painful end to a two-year run as champions. For Rest of the World, it established a new chapter in the young rivalry and delivered the team's first Reyes Cup trophy in front of a passionate Manila crowd.

What happens next on the professional pool calendar?

Attention now shifts to the Philippines Open, scheduled for October 20-24 at Gateway Mall in Quezon City. David Alcaide enters as the defending champion, while several Reyes Cup players are expected to carry their form and rivalries into the individual event.