AJ Manas snags second place in CTPBA Pro Tour Grand Finals

Filipino billiards rising star AJ Manas secured a runner-up finish at the 2026 CTPBA Pro Tour Grand Finals on Tuesday night, narrowly falling to Taiwanese veteran Ko Pin-yi in a tightly contested final in Taipei, Taiwan. 

The 18-year-old Manas took an early lead in the championship match, racing out to an 8–4 advantage and later extending it to 12–9 in the race-to-13 showdown.

His aggressive and composed play in the early racks gave hope to Filipino supporters in the crowd that he could capture the title.

However, Ko, a 36-year-old Taiwanese cue legend and former world No. 1, mounted a dramatic comeback in the closing stages. 

Displaying his vast experience, Ko strung together a decisive 5–0 run to edge out Manas 13–12 and claim the Grand Finals title before the home fans.

Manas, known as “Starboy,” had earlier impressed throughout the two-day event by outplaying several top contenders. He advanced through stacked groups and delivered key victories in the knockout rounds, including wins over local Taiwanese players Lu Hui-Chan and Ko Ping-Han to secure his place in the final four.

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Laban Pilipinas 🇵🇭

AJ Manas & Johann Chua do it AGAIN!!!! 🔥#WNT | https://t.co/GNXL4VDsYd #ReyesCup 🌟 pic.twitter.com/44q7mtVS4d

— Matchroom Pool (@MatchroomPool) October 17, 2025

The young Filipino’s runner-up finish earned him US $3,175 (around ₱188,000), while Ko’s championship brought him the top prize of US $6,350 (approximately ₱376,000)

Manas’ showing in Taipei reinforces the momentum he has built since bursting onto the international scene. In 2025, he was named MVP of the Reyes Cup, helping Team Asia to victory against the Rest of the World and gaining praise from Philippine pool icons for his poise under pressure.

Despite the heartbreaking one-rack loss in the final, Manas remains a player to watch as he continues his stretch of international competition. He is entered in upcoming events, including the Universal Chinese Taipei 9-Ball Open, where he will continue to face a strong field of global cue athletes.

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