CARLO Biado is determined to protect home court as he banners Team Asia in the second staging of the Reyes Cup starting this Thursday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
"There's pressure, but I can handle the pressure because I have a lot of experience winning in the major events and I have the best team. I hope this year, we lift the trophy again," he said on Wednesday.
READ Online pool sensation AJ Manas steps into the mainstream at Reyes Cup
The two-time World Pool champion will be leading from the front in this title-retention bid in the Asian version of the Mosconi Cup.
Biado is back in the fold for Team Asia together with countryman Johann Chua, 2025 US Open champion and reigning Reyes Cup MVP Aloysius Yapp of Singapore, and Duong Quoc Hoang of Vietnam, with that core winning the inaugural staging last year.
Completing the squad is 19-year-old prodigy AJ Manas as they will be guided by team captain Francisco "Django" Bustamante.
But this ain't going to be a cakewalk for Team Asia, with the newly formed Team Rest of World out to snatch the trophy from its grip.
World No. 1 Fedor Gorst leads the visitors as he teams up with Jayson Shaw of Scotland, Francisco Sanchez Ruiz of Spain, Skylar Woodward of the USA, and Moritz Neuhausen of Germany, with American legend Jeremy Jones serving as captain.
The first team to win 11 matches in this four-day duel will take home the crown.
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