BRIMMING with confidence, Johann Chua gets ready for action in the first edition of 2024 Reyes Cup, a competition between Asia and Europe set to start on Tuesday evening at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Chua said he is excited for his next challenge after defeating the “Prince of Pool” Ko Pin-yi from Taiwan in the final of the 2024 Hanoi Open to clinch the title on Sunday night.
“Sobrang excited na po ako para bukas. Iyung nangyari sa akin last night, hindi pa nagsi-sink in,” said Chua in an interview with the Manila Standard during a pre-match press conference of the Reyes Cup, organized and presented by Match Room.
As champion of the Hanoi meet, Chua received $30,000, while Ko got $15,000. The two third-place players, both from the Philippines, Carlo Biado and Jefrey Roda, received $9,500 each.
The 32-yearold Chua immediately flew back to Manila for the Reyes Cup, to join hands with Team Asia members Biado, Ko, Aloysius Yapp (Singapore) and Duong Quoc Hoang (Vietnam).
Team Europe has Eklent Kaci (Albania), Mickey Krause (Denmark), Jayson Shaw (England), Francisco Sanchez Ruiz and David Alcaide (Spain).
“Hindi pa nga ako nakakapagpahinga. Pero bago ko nakuha iyung title sa Hanoi, tiwala naman ako sa sarili,” added Chua.
Chua added that his experiences in the third edition of the European Open Championship helped him in Hanoi.
That’s when Chua reached the finals, losing to Mickey Krause of Denmark, 13–8 at Hotel Esperanto in Fulda, Germany.
Chua’s runner-up finish allowed him to secure a spot as a second overall pick to represent team Asia in the Reyes Cup, named after legendary cue artist Efren “Bata” Reyes.
The Reyes Cup won’t see reigning world 8-ball pool champion Joshua Filler competing.
Filler was withdrawn from the tournament after he changed his stance about boycotting the World Pool Association for banning Vietnam.
