Filipino pool superstar Johann Chua could have the opportunity to seal the inaugural Reyes Cup title for Team Asia in his upcoming singles match on Day 4.
Filipino pool star Johann Chua is poised to lead Team Asia to victory at the 2024 Reyes Cup, following their stunning 9-3 advantage over Team Europe after Day 3 of the competition at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila on Thursday, October 17.
Chua, who only played during the team match, remains confident ahead of his crucial singles match, which could seal the title for the home squad.
With Team Asia needing just two more wins to claim the prestigious title, Chua acknowledged the team's commanding position but emphasized that the job isn’t finished yet.
"We expect to win. It's gonna be a hard time for them to beat us," Chua told reporters after Day 3. "They need to win nine matches tomorrow to come back. But the job is not done. We're still gonna do what we did in the other days—enjoy, focus, and try to get the W."
As Chua gears up for his singles match against David Alcaide of Spain--which could be the decisive game in the tournament--the Filipino is aware of the pressure but remains optimistic about delivering a strong performance.
"I'm really excited because I know it might add up a little bit of pressure, especially since my match could determine if we get to the hill," Chua explained. "But I'll try to stay focused and enjoy the moment. I'm really confident that we'll win the first match tomorrow."
The recently-crowned 2024 Hanoi Open champion admitted that he didn’t expect such a wide score margin over the talented Team Europe, acknowledging the unexpected nature of the 9-3 lead.
"It is a surprise. I never really expected this kind of scoreline. It can happen vice versa, but if we lost to them, I expected it to be a close fight," said Chua.
Despite the unexpected lead, Chua praised his team for coming together after a rocky opening match on Day 1 wherein Team Asia squandered it 4-0 lead in the team match.
"It is what it is. We got some good rolls, and my team really played well. We found our vibe after the first team match because we lost the opening match on the first day," Chua recalled.
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With the championship within reach, Chua and Team Asia are determined to finish strong and bring home the inaugural Reyes Cup.
@onesportsphl WINNING MINDSET FROM THE CHAMP 🤩 2024 Hanoi Open champion Johann Chua expressed his surprise at Team Asia's dominant performance against Team Europe at the Reyes Cup. Despite the challenge ahead for Team Europe, Chua emphasized that Team Asia remains laser-focused on securing the inaugural trophy. | via Xander Lauren Cipriano/One Sports Digital #OSOnTheSpot #ReyesCup #OneSports
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(With reports from Xander Cipriano/One Sports Digital)