AJ Manas
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
Nickname | Starboy |
| Pool career | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Tournament wins | |
| Other titles | Reyes Cup |
Albert James 'AJ' Manas is a professional pool player from the Philippines. Nicknamed Starboy, he was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 2025 Reyes Cup.
Career
Manas started playing pool aged seven in Antipolo, Philippines.[1] He counted Efren Reyes and Francisco Bustamente as idols while growing up.[2] In 2023, he won the Hanoi Junior Open and was a losing finalist at the TE Capital Nineball Open.[3] He was selected to represent Asia in the 2025 Reyes Cup.[4] Team Asia defeated Team Rest of World with Manas being named most valuable player (MVP). During the event, Manas defeated Fedor Gorst in a singles match, and helped secure the winning points in a doubles match with playing partner Carlo Biado.[5] At the Philippines Open, Manas knocked out world champion Biado before suffering a defeat to Jayson Shaw in the quarter-finals.[6][7]
In December 2025, Manas was victorious at the WWW International, overcoming William Johan in the final.[8] The following month, he reached the final of the CTPBA Pro Tour finals, but lost in a final-frame decider to Ko Pin-yi.[9]
Titles
source:[10]
- 2025 Break 88 Pool Club Nine-ball Tournament
- 2025 WWW International Nine-ball
- 2025 Reyes Cup (MVP)
- 2025 Reyes Cup
- 2024 99 Billiards Tournament Nine-ball
- 2023 Hanoi Junior Open Championship
References
- ^ Espina-Varona, Inday (6 October 2022). "Wonder kid AJ Manas ends run in Bacolod billiards tourney on high note". Rappler. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- ^ "Who is AJ Manas? Meet the 18-year-old cue artist seen as the future of Philippine billiards". onesports.ph. 18 October 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- ^ "AJ Manas". Matchroom Sport. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- ^ "Online pool sensation AJ Manas steps into the mainstream at Reyes Cup". spin.ph. 16 October 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- ^ Matel, Philip (20 October 2025). "'Starboy' steals show: AJ Manas wins MVP as Team Asia defends Reyes Cup title". Rappler. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- ^ "AJ Manas' star keeps rising after besting Carlo Biado in PH Open". spin.ph. 23 October 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- ^ "Great Scot ends teen AJ Manas' dream run in PH Open quarterfinals". spin.ph. 24 October 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- ^ Cua, Aric John Sy (5 December 2025). "Manas claims pool championship in Indonesia". The Manila times. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
- ^ Montejo, Mark Rey (7 January 2026). "'Starboy' Manas runner-up in Taiwan tilt". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
- ^ "AJ Manas". azbilliards.com. Retrieved 7 December 2025.