JOHANN Chua’s return to the World Nineball Tour turned into a rousing coronation.
'Bad Koi' Chua made the most of his breaks to hold off a resolute Anton Raga, 11-9, in an all-Filipino final and ruled the 2026 Roobet Philippines Open on Saturday at Gateway Mall 2 in Cubao.
Chua was in-form all tournament long, but in the end he still needed a bit of luck after Raga scratched on his break in rack 20 leading to Chua for the title-clinching cleanup with 'The Dragon' conceding in the end.
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“We both felt the pressure especially towards the end, but I just got the opportunity to get it,” said Chua, who is USD20,000 richer after taking this major.
It wasn’t an easy final, however, with Raga coming back from a 0-5 deficit to make a game of it in the end.
Chua had a chance to win it in rack 19, but his miscue on the 5 opened the chance for Raga to cut the deficit once more.
Raga did take home USD10,000 for his runner-up finish.
Still, it was a huge victory for Philippine billiards with the nation’s best cue masters showing out in the all-Filipino semifinals.
Chua routed 19-year-old Bernie Regalario, 10-2, in their semifinal clash after coming out of an early 0-2 hole and winning the next 10 frames, while Raga held off Baseth Mocaibat, 10-6 in the other bracket.
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