By MARK MONTEJO
Johann Chua and James Aranas pulled off a stunning upset and eliminated defending champion Francisco Sanchez Ruiz and David Alcaide of Spain, 7-5, in the World Cup of Pool 9-Ball Championship in Lugo, Spain on Tuesday, June 27.
Down 5-3 against the heavy favorites in the tournament, the Filipino duo showed poise and claimed the last four racks to complete a rousing comeback that allowed them to stay in contention for the $60,000 (P3.3 million) top prize.
The reigning champs actually flexed their might and built an early 2-0 advantage before the Filipinos showed resistance by scoring the next three racks to take a brief advantage in the contest.
Ruiz and Alcaide, however, delighted the crowd when they made another run, securing the next three racks to move two wins away in the race-to-seven affair.
That was when the Filipinos, however, showed great resolve and dominated the last four racks to advance to the round of 16 where they could face Spain B or Saudi Arabia.
The pride of Bacolod Chua and Canada-based Aranas, recently joined the pre-event of Spanish Open but were bowed out in the contention with an identical 10-9 against Chinese Wu Jia Quing and Norwegian youngster Emil Andre Gangflot.
