| Alias | Starboy |
| Country | Philippines |
| Hometown | Manila |
| Age | 19 |
| Height | 5ft 7in |
| Highest Rank | 54 |
| Majors Won | 0 |
| Invitationals Won | 0 |
| Ranking Events Won | 0 |
| Prize Money | $29,100 |
AJ Manas is a Filipino nineball player whose rise from junior competition has already brought success on one of pool’s biggest team stages. He won the inaugural Hanoi Junior Open in 2023 and finished runner-up at the TE Capital Nineball Open that year, combining junior success with a significant senior result.
His defining team breakthrough came at the 2025 Reyes Cup. Making his debut for Team Asia, Manas helped the side retain the trophy and was named the event’s Most Valuable Player. The award placed him alongside the established champions in the lineup as one of the central figures in Asia’s victory.
Manas has continued to develop his individual record, reaching the quarter-finals of the 2025 Philippines Open and the last 16 of the 2026 Florida Open. His senior progress has taken him from a final in Singapore to the latter stages of events in the Philippines and United States, alongside his title-winning contribution for Asia.
Selected honours and results
Team honour: Reyes Cup, Team Asia — 2025
Individual award: Reyes Cup MVP — 2025
Junior title: Hanoi Junior Open — 2023
Selected WNT results: Philippines Open quarter-finalist — 2025; Florida Open last 16 — 2026.
See AJ Manas at
The Philippines Open Pool Championship brings a World Nineball Tour Major to one of pool’s most passionate homes. Launched in 2025 at Gateway Mall in Quezon City, it gives Filipino players the opportunity to compete against international opposition in front of their home supporters.
The inaugural tournament used a 128-player straight-knockout draw, making every match an elimination contest. David Alcaide became its first champion, winning seven matches and defeating Arseni Sevastyanov in the final to establish the event’s first benchmark.
The second edition returns to Gateway Mall from 20–24 October 2026, beginning two days after the Reyes Cup finishes in nearby Makati. Alcaide returns to defend his title as the focus shifts from team competition to the pursuit of an individual Major. The semi-finals and final take place on 24 October.
