FOR a decade now, the world seemed to have forgotten why the Philippines has been the epicenter of the billiards universe.
On Monday morning at the cavernous Pazo de Feiras e Congresos de Lugo in Spain, the marvelous Filipino tandem of James Aranas and Johann Chua reminded everyone of the country’s magnificence.
With lady luck smiling and their shot-making wizardry unabated, the 31-year-old Aranas-Chua duo pulled off a pair of magical victories in the semifinals and finals to claim the World Cup of Pool title and reestablish the country as best in the planet with now a record of four titles in tow.
The unheralded pair was nothing short of electric in disposing of 2019 champions Albin Ouschan and Mario He of Austria in the semis in another epic hill-hill 9-8 win reminiscent of the former’s quarters triumph over Taiwan’s Ko Pin Yi and Ko Ping Chung the night before.
Then they decimated the German blitzkrieg of Joshua Filler and Moritz Neuhausen, 11-7, in the finale to crown themselves champions in the sport dominated by the Filipinos for decades now.
It was title No. 4 for the country after the legendary Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante reigned supreme in 2006 and 2009 and Dennis Orcollo and Lee Van Corteza prevailed in 2013.
It took a full decade for a tiny archipelagic country to take back the crown in the sport akin to the Filipinos.
And it was because of the sustained artistry and the nerves of steel displayed by these men nicknamed “Dodong Diamond (Aranas)” and “Bad Koi (Chua).”
When it was over, the fans were just bedazzled and cheered and chanted frantically while the awed television commentator later called Aranas “King James” and Chua “Emperor Chua.”
“It was great, it was amazing,” said an ecstatic Mr. Aranas, who will share with Mr. Chua their cool purse worth $60,000 or a whopping P3.3 million.
“We’ve known each other since we were 13 years old, we’ve been through a lot,” he added.
It was also redemption of sorts for the pair after crashing out early in the round-of-64 of the Spanish Open also in Lugo a week ago.
“It was a blessing in disguise because we lost in the Spanish Open in a brutal way,” said Mr. Chua. “Everything happens for a reason and God gave the title for us.”
Against the dangerous Austrians, Messrs. Aranas and Chua blew a huge 8-2 lead and were pushed back to a hill-hill showdown after the former strung together six racks in row including the 14th where the big-hitting Mr. He sank a golden break.
But in a twist of fate, Mr. He turned potential hero to goat as he scratched off the break that allowed the Filipinos to run it all out for the win.
It was almost the same story in the finals against the Germans in the finals when the Filipinos roared to a mighty 9-2 edge only to allow the former to close the gap at 9-7.
It ended up the last as Messrs. Aranas and Chua delivered the coup de grace in snaring the final two racks and the title. — Joey Villar
