JOHANN Chua earned his place in Team Asia for the upcoming Reyes Cup in October after his runner-up finish in the European Open.
The Filipino cue master currently sits 12th in the World Nineball Tour rankings after the second cutoff at the conclusion of the last tournament.
“I get goosebumps every time I think about it,” he told Matchroom Pool.
“It means the world to me, especially to be part of the first Team Asia. This is a moment of my career I will never forget. A lot of people have wanted this event for a long time, so to be the first Filipino to join Team Asia is truly special.”
Chua joins Singapore’s Aloysius Yapp in Team Asia which will battle Team Europe in the inaugural staging of the event in honor of billiards legend Efren “Bata” Reyes, to be held this October 17 to 20 in Manila.
The other top-ranked Asian player will be added after the US Open cutoff, with two more wildcards, to be selected by the team captain, completing the squad.
Eklent Kaci of Albania and Mickey Krause of Denmark are the first two members of Team Europe in the Reyes Cup, which will follow the four-day team format of the Mosconi Cup.
Chua, winner of the 2023 World Cup of Pool with James Aranas, has enjoyed a superb season this year.
He reached the semifinals of the World Pool Championship last June, falling to eventual runner-up Kaci, 11-6, while also making it to the final of the European Open this past weekend where he bowed to Krause, 13-8.
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