The countdown begins for Team Asia vs Team Europe, October 15-18.
Efren Reyes and Karl Boyes are set to captain Team Asia and Team Europe, respectively, for the highly anticipated Reyes Cup, taking place from 15-18 October 2024 at the spectacular Ninoy Aquino National Stadium in Manila, Philippines.
This landmark event will see Asia’s finest players face off against Europe’s best in an exciting new fixture on the World Nineball Tour showcased across the globe through local broadcaster Cignal TV, as well as Sky Sports across the UK.
The Reyes Cup is set to mirror the format of the prestigious Mosconi Cup, bringing together two elite teams over four thrilling days of competition. A total of 21 matches, including singles and doubles, will be played, with each match a race to 5. The first team to reach 11 points will claim victory in what promises to be a fierce contest between two of the world’s strongest teams.
Efren Reyes and Karl Boyes officially met face-to-face during a press conference in Manila today (13 September), setting the stage for an epic showdown at the inaugural Reyes Cup.
At the helm of Team Asia is the legendary Efren "Bata" Reyes, widely regarded as the greatest player in the history of the sport. Reyes, who is beloved in the Philippines and beyond, will lead his team in front of an impassioned home crowd. Reyes expressed his excitement ahead of the event:
“I’ve been waiting for this for so long. Ever since the founding of the Mosconi Cup, I’ve wanted something for Asia. Europe will have the edge because of their experience in that arena, but Asia has plenty of skill and talent to get the win. I’m also looking forward to a potential exhibition against fellow captain Karl Boyes.”
Leading Team Europe is the six-time Mosconi Cup champion Karl Boyes, who brings a wealth of experience to Team Europe. Boyes said:
“My Nineball career started back in 2007 with Matchroom in the Philippines, so I know just how big the sport and this event is for the country. I’ve been lucky to be here many times in my career, and I cannot wait to lead out Team Europe as captain next month, it is going to be very special.”
Aloysius Yapp, Johan Chua, and Ko Pin Yi are the first to qualify and will lead the charge for Team Asia, while Eklent Kaçi, Mickey Krause, and Joshua Filler form the forefront of Team Europe. Reyes and Boyes are set to select two wild cards to complete their squads this coming October. With the very best talent from both continents set to compete, the Reyes Cup is sure to become a flagship event on the global pool calendar.
Scheduled to run from 15-18 October, the tournament will unfold across four evenings at the Ninoy Aquino National Stadium in Manila. The event schedule is as follows (local time):
Tuesday, 15th October: 7:30 pm - 00:00 am
Wednesday, 16th October: 7:30 pm - 00:00 am
Thursday, 17th October: 7:30 pm - 00:00 am
Friday, 18th October: 7:30 pm - 00:00 am
Fans in attendance can expect an electrifying atmosphere as Manila hosts this historic showdown in the spectacular Ninoy Aquino National Stadium. Alongside the Reyes Cup Captains at the press conference panel were Founder of Puyat Sports, Aristeo "Putch" Puyat, Matchroom Multi Sport CEO Emily Frazer, and Cignal TV's Assistant Vice President Miguel S. Vea, all of whom shared their enthusiasm about the upcoming event. Mr. Aristeo "Putch" Puyat, Founder and Owner of Puyat Sports, commented:
“It is a very opportune time to create an event in honour of Efren Reyes in his home country. My thanks go to Matchroom. There is no bigger honour we can give to Efren Reyes after he announced himself on the world stage, winning Matchroom’s first televised World Championship in 1999.”
Emily Frazer, CEO of Matchroom Multi Sport, said:
“This is going to just be phenomenal. The Mosconi Cup has been running for 30 years now, and we sell out a 2,500-seat arena. Imagine where we will be with the Reyes Cup in just four weeks. I cannot wait to see all the seats filled up here at the Ninoy Aquino National Stadium in Manila. It’s about creating history, and what better way to do it under the iconic Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes. Miguel S. Vea, Assistant Vice President – Sports Business Development Cignal TV, added:
“Ticket information is coming very soon. On behalf of Cignal TV, we are very excited and honoured to be selected as host broadcaster of this event. We are going to be utilising multi-platform for the Reyes Cup. For the free-to-air audience, it will be on Onesports. For paid TV, it will be Onesports+, and of course, for digital natives, it will be on our OTT app, Pilipinas Live.”
Tickets for the Reyes Cup will be available soon, and fans are encouraged to book early, as demand is high and the event is expected to sell out quickly.
For those unable to attend, the Reyes Cup will be broadcast live globally. In the Philippines, host broadcaster Cignal TV will bring the action to local audiences, while international fans can tune in via Sky Sports in the UK & Ireland, DAZN in the USA & Brazil, and other platforms worldwide, ensuring pool enthusiasts everywhere can experience every thrilling moment. For all the latest news and announcements, follow Matchroom Pool on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.
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