Team Asia extended its lead, 4-2, after exacting revenge against Team Europe to open Day 2 of the 2024 Reyes Cup.
Day 2 of the 2024 Reyes Cup at the Ninoy Aquino National Stadium in Manila on Wednesday, October 16, saw Team Asia flex mastery of the pool, staging an impressive comeback to defeat Team Europe, 5-3, securing their fourth victory in the tournament.
Team Europe started strong, quickly gaining a 2-0 lead behind the stellar performances of Jayson Shaw and Eklent Kaçi.
Shaw, determined to redeem his Day 1 singles loss, came out firing in his opening match, setting the tone early for the Europeans.
However, Team Asia showed their resilience, with Duong Quoc Hoang and Aloysius Yapp battling back to tie the score at 2-2.
[ALSO READ: Day 1 hero Alyosius Yapp relishes ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experience playing in inaugural Reyes Cup]
The Filipino crowd roared as Asia’s homegrown talent began to find their rhythm. Duong’s precision play and Yapp’s tactical brilliance allowed Team Asia to level the playing field, signaling a shift in momentum.
Carlo Biado, one of the Philippines' top billiards players, took the spotlight in the next match and pushed Team Asia ahead, 3-2. Biado’s dominance on the table demonstrated his experience and composure under pressure, putting Team Europe on the back foot.
But Europe wasn’t ready to give up just yet. Shaw, once again showing his leadership, won another critical match to even the score at 3-3.
His steady hand and precise shot-making kept Team Europe in the fight, drawing cheers from their fans in attendance.
[ALSO READ: Jayson Shaw rallies Team Europe after Day 1 deficit in Reyes Cup: 'Only the first day']
In response, Hanoi Open 2024 champion Johann Chua reclaimed the lead for Team Asia at 4-3, delivering a clutch performance under immense pressure. With the crowd behind him, Chua’s stellar run kept Europe scrambling, inching Asia closer to victory.
The final match saw Duong return to seal the deal for Team Asia for a 5-3 victory that clinched the win for his squad, capping off a remarkable comeback.
Up next will be the singles match between Spain’s Francisco Sanchez Ruiz and Ko Pin-yi of Taiwan.