By MARK REY MONTEJO

Johann Chua and James Aranas downed Spanish duo Jose Alberto Delgado and Jonas Souto Comino, 7-2, to advance to the quarterfinals in the World Cup of Pool 9-Ball Championship in Lugo, Spain on Friday, June 30.

Johann Chua and James Aranas. (Matchroom Pool's Facebook post)

The Filipino cue artists went off to a 3-0 start and held on despite some resistance from the hometown bets in the race-to-seven collision.

Aranas and Chua now await the winner between the Netherlands of Chinese Taipei for quarterfinals foes in the tournament that offers $60,0000 (P3.3 million) to the winners.

It was the second straight match that the duo impressed in front of a hostile crowd after dethroning defending champion and world No. 1 Francisco Sanches Ruiz and David Alcaide also of Spain, 7-5.

The last time the Philippines won the World Cup of Pool was in 2013 when Dennis Orcollo and Lee Van Corteza topped the tilt and also followed the footsteps of legends Efren "Bata" Reyes and Django Bustamante who reigned supreme in 2006 and 2009.