LUGO: Philippines won the 2023 World Cup of Pool 9-ball Championship for the record fourth time as the pair of Johann Chua and James Aranas defeated team Germany in the final 11-7.
In the final of the mega event between the Philippines and Germany, the Filipino pair of Chua and Aranas sealed a comprehensive 11-7 triumph over the latter team, comprised of Joshua Filler and Moritz Neuhausen in the Best of 21.
The Filipinos had a rather shaky start as they were 1-2 down after the first three racks but soon recollected themselves and made an astounding comeback by winning the next eight frames as their confidence steadily fortified.
Filler and Neuhaussen then won the next five frames of their race-to-11 battle to narrow the gap to 9-7.
Chua drained a critical 8-ball after it was struck by the number 2 ball to climb the hill in the 17th rack before finishing off with another magnificent performance in the final rack.
The victory lifted the Philippines to break the tie in overall World Cup of Pool title victories as they bagged their fourth title against China’s three after the 2006 and 2009 triumphs of Efren Reyes and Francisco Bustamante, and the 2013 conquest of Dennis Orcollo and Lee Van Corteza.
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