The Serbian arrives for his first Reyes Cup determined to help Rest of the World break Asia’s hold on the trophy, and show young players back home how far they can go.
Aleksa Pecelj had barely arrived in the Philippines before getting a sense of what awaited him.
Passing through airport security, he was asked the reason for his visit. His answer, that he was there to play in the Reyes Cup, brought an immediate reaction of recognition.
For a player visiting the country for the first time, it was an early introduction to the place pool occupies in Philippine life. Ahead lay a debut at Makati Coliseum, a place alongside some of the sport’s biggest names and the challenge of beating a team who have yet to surrender the trophy.
Speaking on the World Nineball Tour’s The Break Room, Pecelj made clear that he intends to meet that occasion on his own terms.
“I don’t try to live up to other people’s expectations,” he said. “I’m pretty excited. I’m ready to go.”
Watch the full Aleksa Pecelj interview on the WNT YouTube channel.
The work behind the breakthrough
A Phoenix Open title, an Arizona Open runner-up finish and a US Open semi-final made August a defining month for Pecelj. Across three tournaments, he turned strong performances into the sustained run that brought him into the Reyes Cup conversation.
To those watching, it looked like a breakthrough. To Pecelj, it reflected work that had been accumulating away from the cameras.
He describes combining visualisation with demanding practice, trying to picture the opportunities he wanted while preparing himself to take them. Positive thinking was one part of that process. The hours behind it mattered just as much.
His comeback against Albert Januarta in Arizona offered a particularly revealing example. Asked about that match, Pecelj looked beyond the recovery itself to the racks that had preceded it, when small moments had gone against him.
This time, his response was to remain present, resist frustration and work through the match one rack at a time. He acknowledged that fortune played a part, too. The difference was being ready when the chance arrived.
“I was just trying to be present and just trying to chip away game after game.”
That patience could prove valuable in Makati, where the pressure of an individual visit to the table is shared by an entire team.
Rivals become teammates
Pecelj joins Francisco Sánchez Ruiz, Shane Van Boening, Joshua Filler and Fedor Gorst under captain Ralf Souquet.
The names are familiar. The relationship is different. Players he usually tries to eliminate from tournaments will now be working towards the same result.
Pecelj welcomes that change. Beating established champions has helped build his confidence, but the prospect of spending several days practising and preparing alongside them carries its own value.
For players from smaller pool nations, he explains, extended time in that company is an opportunity that does not come often. He intends to ask questions and learn.
Souquet is central to that.
Pecelj speaks with admiration about the German’s continued willingness to travel the world and compete, as well as the record that makes him one of the game’s most respected figures.
“Now having him as a captain, I’m going to try to learn as much as I can from him.”
He also believes he has plenty to contribute. Asked what he brings to Rest of the World, Pecelj points to momentum, positive energy and a game that has already shown it can trouble the best.
A possibility for the players back home
For Pecelj, the significance of his invitation reaches beyond the ten players taking part.
Back home, he says, the reaction was one of excitement and disbelief. An invitation to a stage like this can feel distant for players growing up in countries with fewer opportunities in the sport.
His selection makes that possibility visible.
“They see that you can come to the big stage, you can get invited for tournaments, you can be at the top.”
Pecelj is equally conscious of those whose ability has yet to receive the same exposure. He describes talented players across the region who struggle to travel or meet the demands of a professional career.
That gives his own progress an additional purpose. A successful week would help his team, but simply taking his place in Makati offers younger players an example they can recognise.
“I hope I will be a good representative.”
Ready for the challenge
Team Asia are chasing a third consecutive title. Pecelj and Rest of the World arrive seeking their first.
It is a formidable assignment for a debutant, particularly on his first visit to the Philippines. Yet his interview reveals a player comfortable holding two ambitions together: learning from the champions around him and helping them win.
After the Reyes Cup, his attention will turn to the Philippines Open. His approach there sounds much the same. Prepare properly, bring his best game and avoid becoming consumed by the eventual result.
First, though, comes Makati Colisseum, and the opportunity he worked to make possible.
Watch Pecelj discuss his breakthrough August, learning from Ralf Souquet and representing Serbia in the full episode of The Break Room on WNT YouTube.
The 2026 Roobet Reyes Cup takes place from 15–18 October at Makati Coliseum. Book your tickets to experience the action in person. For viewing options in your territory, check the official event information and WNT TV. US viewers can also watch on ESPN+ on the ESPN App.