JOHANN Chua may have thought the day that he would win a championship may never come. He's had two close calls, including a painful setback in the finals of a major tournament.
But last night his dream finally arrived.
With precision and control, he captured the 2024 Mansion Sports Hanoi Open 9-ball crown, beating the ultra-talented Ko Pin Yi, 13-7, in the finals. He said lessons learned from past losses were the reason for his victory.
READ Meet the players of Team Asia and Europe in inaugural Reyes Cup
“Sobrang thankful ako na nagamit ko ang past experiences ko nitong taon. Alam ko may mga mistakes ako kung bakit hindi ko siya nakuha, pero 'yun 'yung tina-try ko na i-improve," Chua said.
He cited his defeat in the semifinals of the World Pool Championship and the finals of the European Open, saying they have given him valuable inputs for his next tournament.
“Sobrang thankful ako na nag-work siya and binigay sa atin ni God,” said the 32-year-old Bacolod native, who was seen holding back tears during his celebration.
But with the results of past events, many believed Chua would soon be able to overcome the last hurdle and claim victory.
He has won the gold in the men’s 9-ball singles in the 30th Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines, while also adding a silver and three bronze medals in the same regional games. He added the World Cup of Pool title with James Aranas last year to his list of triumphs, but it was a joint venture.
But the Hanoi Open trophy is easily the biggest of his career. It also announced that he has arrived and proved he can close the deal when it mattered.
“Talagang goal ko 'yun and I am able to prove sa sarili ko na alam ko na na-surpass ko na yung mga problema ko,” he said.
The victory could not have come at a very important time as Chua is set to spearhead Team Asia against Team Europe in the inaugural Reyes Cup next week in Manila.
“Iba pa rin yung mag-perform ka sa sarili mong bansa and may family and friends talaga. 'Yun yung mga bagay na sobrang excited ako ngayon and hindi ko mahintay na makapag-perform ako bukas,” he said.
Chua will be joined by countryman Carlo Biado, Ko Pin Yi of Chinese Taipei, Aloysius Yapp of Singapore, and Duong Quoc Hoang of Vietnam.
Asians out to assert mastery
Team Europe, meanwhile, will have Jayson Shaw, Eklent Kaci, Mickey Krause, Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, and David Alcaide, with Karl Boyes serving as team captain.
For Chua, the event is a chance for Asians to assert their mastery of the 9-ball event.
“Gusto nating ipakita na hindi nila pwede tanggalin ang Asia sa laro na ito kasi nandito ang pinakamagaling, ang legend ng laro, galing sa Asia, sa bansa natin, sa Pilipinas,” he said, pointing at Reyes.
“Napakagandang maipakita natin ngayon na maraming talents ang Asia, na maipakita na we are the best when it comes to pool.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
