Intense billiards action gets underway as Team Asia defends its title against Rest of the World in the 2025 Reyes Cup on Thursday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Captained by local legend Francisco “Django” Bustamante, the Asians are hoping to put up a strong fight to retain their title in this prestigious event that starts at 7 p.m.

Bustamante, a world nine-ball champion in 2010 and Asian Games gold medalist in 2014, will be backed by other former world champions like Carlo Biado and Johann Chua of the Philippines, Aloysius Yapp of Singapore, and Duong Quoc Hoang of Vietnam with rising star AJ Manas, also of the Philippines.

Bustamante expressed readiness to defend their title — and their home turf — in this event named after the greatest Filipino billiards player of all time, Efren “Bata” Reyes.

“I hope the players we have will win so that our countrymen will be happy. As a team captain, I will try my best to lead the team,” Bustamante said during the press launch graced by Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines president Aristeo “Putch” Puyat on Wednesday.

“My team is strong, full of world champions. They have been practicing well and I have been telling them not to put too much pressure on themselves.”

For Biado, who won the World Pool Championship last July over world No. 1 Fedor Gorst of the United States, lifting the trophy in front of his family and friends will be truly special.

“I’m excited also because my family watched me last year. I’m happy because they will be supporting us again this year and I hope we win it again,” Biado said.

Jayson Shaw of Scotland and Francisco Sanchez Ruiz of Spain, who played as part of Team Europe last year, return to the Reyes Cup with some much-needed backup in a bid to dethrone Team Asia.

World champions Moritz Neuhausen of Germany and Skyler Woodward of the United States will suit up for Team Rest of the World with American pool player Jeremy Jones serving as the team captain.

But the biggest recruit would be world No. 1 Gorst, who is expected to battle Biado in a heated encounter for the title.

Jones said he is excited to lead the visiting squad, especially against a legend like Bustamante.