Chua: Friendship with Aranas crucial to World Cup of Pool win

Billiards aces Johann Chua and James Aranas have known each other for 16 years, and this has become their key to winning the Philippines’ fourth World Cup of Pool title.

Chua and Aranas said they have been best friends since they were 14.

“From Davao kasi si James. Nung lumuwas siya ng Manila ako yung unang nameet niya sa bilyaran na tinatambayan ko malapit sa Malate dati,” said Chua during their guesting on Noli Eala’s Power and Play program last Saturday.

From there, they built a friendship over billiards. They were able to become familiar with each other’s style of play.

It became one of their weapons during the World Cup of Pool in Lugo, Spain.

They came into the contest as the unseeded team, but they plowed through Spain, Chinese Taipei, Austria, and Germany before clinching the title.

Through their victory, the Philippines has become the country with the most title wins in the World Cup of Pool, with four crowns in total.

“Tingin ko (‘yung friendship naman) isa po sa nagbigay ng panalo,” said Chua. “Mas komportable na kasi kami sa isa’t isa.”

“Iba kasi pag naglaro ka ng doubles, hindi ka na natatakot sumablay. Crucial kasi ‘yun pag takot kang sumablay. Lahat kami magagaling pero pag napressure kami ang hirap maglaro talaga.”

Aranas said having to win a fourth title for the Philippines never crossed their minds.

He said they needed to avoid distractions by focusing on their game.

“Sa totoo lang po, wala sa isip ko na ganoon ang magiging outcome po. Basta ang sa amin nakafocus kami na maglaro lang muna,” said Aranas.

With their historic feat, they joined the company of billiards legends Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante.

Reyes and Bustamante won two World Cup of Pool titles for the Philippines in 2006 and 2008.

Dennis Orcollo and Lee Van Corteza later gave the country a third title in 2013.

See related stories:

Johann Chua defeats Carlo Biado for SEA Games billiards gold

Aranas, Chua beat Germany to clinch historic World Cup of Pool title win

Filipino Pool players Aranas, Chua reach semis of World Cup of Pool

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Source: Fast Break