They followed in the footsteps of giants.
In 2006 and 2009, Filipino billiard icons Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes and Django Bustamante took home the World Cup of Pool trophy.
In 2013, it was well-established cue masters Dennis Orcollo and Lee Van Corteza who won the global nine-ball tournament for the Philippines.
And now, an unseeded Pinoy duo, namely Johann Chua and James Aranas, won the country a record fourth World Cup of Pool crown in Lugo, Spain on Monday, Manila time.
No one saw it coming, but Chua and Aranas have reclaimed the Philippines’ title as the world’s preeminent pool nation after beating German tandem Joshua Filler and Moritz Neuhausen in the finals, 11 racks to 7. After the historic win that netted them a prize money of 60,000 US dollars, the newly crowned champs talked to Matchroom managing director Emily Frazer about their unlikely road to victory.
“To win this one is an amazing feeling, but to win it with James? We’ve known each other since we were 13 years old. We went to school together. We’ve been through a lot," Chua revealed in the postgame interview.
“To win this one with him is really such an amazing feeling,” he continued.
Johann is a native of Bacolod, Negros Occidental. As a member of the Philippine team, the 31-year-old cue artist has won six major medals, including a gold in the 2021 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Vietnam. James on the other hand, has been residing in Gainesville, Virginia as he continues to be a professional pool player.
Aside from his childhood bond with James, another thing he shares with his partner is the ample amount of trust they give each other when it comes to making toughest of shots at the pool table.
“He (Chua) makes all the extremely [difficult] shots. I can lean on him. If he says, ‘I can make this,’ I say, 'Go for it,” Aranas explained.
That’s exactly what happened when Chua and Aranas had to pocket the last three balls in the championship-clinching rack. Nerves of steel and incredible shot-making was on full display.
In the end, the unassuming pair were just thankful for receiving the opportunity to prove themselves in the world stage.
“We’d like to thank Ma’am Emily for believing in us that we can perform in this kind of arena. Coming here unseeded, we both know that we don’t deserve this spot, but you trusted us. Thank you so much for that,” Chua told the Matchroom Sport official.
(GM)