By MARK REY MONTEJO

The magical run continues for Johann Chua and James Aranas as the Filipino duo downed former two-time champions Albin Ouschan and Mario He of Austria, 9-8, and advance to the final round of the World Cup of Pool 9-Ball Championship in Lugo, Spain on Sunday, July 2.

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

Ouschan and He briefly took a 3-2 lead but the Filipino pair answered back with four straight racks and took a 6-3 advantage in the tournament that offers $60,000 (P3.3 million) to the winning tandem.

The unseeded Chua and Aranas even stretched the margin to 8-4 before the No. 4 Austrians launched a counter attack that forced themselves to a standstill at 8-all.

Showing much composure like in their previous encounter against their Taiwanese foes that went down the wire, Chua and Aranas capitalized on He's scratch in the final rack and in the process deny their rivals another title shot after winning it in 2017 and 2019.

It was also a redemption of sorts for the Philippines after the Austrians beat Carlo Biado and Jeff de Luna in the championship round of their last run four years ago.

The pride of Bacolod Chua and the Canada-based Aranas will now face the German duo of Joshua Filler and Moritz Neuhausen in the finals for a chance to become the fourth Philippine team to win the crown and break the tie with China as the winningest countries in the prestigious tournament.