By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
For the second time, Anthony Raga settled for a runner-up finish in the 2023 China Open 9-Ball Championship in Shanghai over the weekend but will go home with lots of fun and valuable experience.
The 26-year-old Cebuano yielded to former world 9-ball champion Joshua Filler of Germany, 11-5, in the tournament that was returning from a four-year hiatus.
His effort rewarded him the runner-up prize of $20,000 (around P1.1 million).
In 2019, Raga almost clinched the crown but eventually lost to hometown bet Wu Jiaqing, 11-10.
Wu, however, did not compete in this year’s edition.
“Makukuha din kita sa susunod basta huwag ka lang sumuko, dragon,” wrote Raga, who was nicknamed ‘The Dragon’ by his peers, in a separate social media post.
Last month, Raga lost to Spain’s David Alcaide in the European Pool Championships in Germany.
“Salamat sa patuloy na pagsuporta,” Raga posted on his social media.
“Hindi man natin nakamit ang kampyonato, importante ginawa natin an gating makakaya,” he added.
Prior to his finals appearance, Raga edged Mongolia’s Yeruult Amgalanbaatar in the Last 32, 11-7; Japan’s Naoyuki Oi in Last 16, 11-9; China’s Liu Haitao in the quarterfinals, 11-5; and Chinese Taipei’s Wu Kun-Lin in the semis, 11-6, in the knockout stage.
Four other Filipinos made it to the men’s knockout stage with Carlo Biado losing to Wu in the quarters, 11-10; James Aranas bowing to Vietnam’s Luong Duc Thien in the Last 32, 11-8; and Jeffrey Ignacio yielding to Biado, 11-8, also in the last 32.
In the distaff side, Rubilen Amit was the best Filipina finisher after making it to the quarters where she lost to eventual champion Han Yu, 9-5.
