Reyes Cup Rosters Set for Asia's Three-Peat Bid in Manila

The 2026 Roobet Reyes Cup now has its full cast. Ten players, two veteran captains and four days in Manila will decide whether Team Asia can complete a third straight victory or Team Rest of the World can finally take the trophy.

The event runs from October 15 to 18 at Makati Coliseum. Francisco "Django" Bustamante leads Team Asia, while Germany's Ralf Souquet captains a Rest of the World side loaded with proven champions. The names make the contest look top-heavy at first glance, but this edition may be decided by how quickly each captain finds his best doubles pairings.

Team Asia	Route into the team	Team Rest of the World	Route into the team
Carlo Biado	Highest-ranked Filipino	Francisco Sanchez Ruiz	Highest-ranked European
Robbie Capito	Highest-ranked non-Filipino	Shane Van Boening	Highest-ranked American
AJ Manas	Selected player	Joshua Filler	Selected player
Duong Quoc Hoang	Selected player	Fedor Gorst	Selected player
Albert Januarta	Selected player	Aleksa Pecelj	Selected player

Why does the final lineup change the shape of the contest?

Team Rest of the World has the more decorated roster on paper. Shane Van Boening, Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, Joshua Filler and Fedor Gorst have all won major world titles, and each is accustomed to playing under television pressure. Aleksa Pecelj enters as the only Reyes Cup debutant on that side, giving Souquet one new piece to fit around four established stars.

Asia's strength is less about collecting the biggest individual resumes. Bustamante has a group built around regional form, recent WNT performances and players who have already shown they can handle the atmosphere of this event.

Carlo Biado supplies the championship experience. Robbie Capito brings a calm, methodical game, while AJ Manas adds another Filipino presence in front of the home crowd. Duong Quoc Hoang returns for his third consecutive Reyes Cup, and Indonesia's Albert Januarta completes the team for his event debut.

That contrast creates the central question of the week. Can the visitors turn greater individual firepower into a functioning team before Asia's familiarity with the setting and format takes hold?

Which matchups could define the four days in Manila?

Biado against any of the Rest of the World leaders would give the event an immediate headline match. A meeting with Van Boening would put two of the sport's most experienced pressure players on the same table. A clash with Gorst or Filler would test Biado's control against a faster, more aggressive rhythm.

Capito may be just as important. Team events reward players who can settle a rack after a partner's error, and his measured pace could make him a useful link in several pairings. Duong offers another option because he already understands the demands of representing Asia in this competition.

For Souquet, the challenge is abundance. Gorst, Filler, Sanchez Ruiz and Van Boening can each be used as a lead player, but stacking famous names together doesn't automatically produce the cleanest partnership. Shot selection, pace and communication matter more in doubles than reputation.

Those are analytical possibilities rather than confirmed matchups. The captains' selections and the daily order of play will determine which rivalries actually reach the table.

Why will doubles carry more weight this year?

World Nineball Tour has confirmed a format adjustment that will give spectators more doubles action and more player combinations across the four days. That increases the tactical work for Bustamante and Souquet.

A deeper doubles schedule can expose a team that relies too heavily on one or two stars. It can also reward a captain willing to change combinations early instead of waiting for a pairing to find form. Every player is likely to affect the overall result, even if the singles sessions attract most of the attention.

Team Asia may benefit from continuity. Duong has appeared in every edition, Biado knows the home-stage pressure, and the Filipino players should receive the loudest support inside Makati Coliseum. Rest of the World, though, can rotate elite shot-makers without creating an obvious weak pairing.

Short races leave little time for chemistry to develop. One poor safety exchange or a missed positional route can decide a doubles point before either team settles into the match.

What is at stake beyond the 2026 trophy?

This is the third edition of the Reyes Cup, and Team Asia has won the first two. A victory in Manila would create a three-peat and strengthen Asia's ownership of a competition named in honor of Filipino legend Efren Reyes.

Rest of the World is chasing its first title. Another defeat would turn an early two-year pattern into a genuine streak, particularly painful for a squad carrying so much individual success. A win would reset the rivalry and prove that Souquet found the right combinations from a roster with very few obvious gaps.

The venue adds another layer. Makati Coliseum gives Team Asia a home crowd, but it also places expectation on Biado, Manas and the rest of Bustamante's group. The same noise that unsettles a visiting player can tighten the arm of the favorite.

How can fans watch the 2026 Reyes Cup?

The Roobet Reyes Cup will be played at Makati Coliseum in Makati, Philippines, from October 15 through October 18. Tickets are available through the event's official ticketing partner.

World Nineball Tour says every session will also be shown live on WNT TV. Broadcast arrangements may vary by territory, so viewers should check the official event listings before the opening session.

When is the 2026 Roobet Reyes Cup?

The event takes place from October 15 to 18, 2026, at Makati Coliseum in the Philippines.

Who are the Reyes Cup captains?

Francisco Bustamante captains Team Asia, while Ralf Souquet leads Team Rest of the World.

Has Team Rest of the World won the Reyes Cup?

No. Team Asia won the first two editions and will attempt to complete a third consecutive victory in 2026.

Where can the Reyes Cup be watched live?

World Nineball Tour says all four days will be streamed live on WNT TV, subject to local broadcast arrangements.