By MARK MONTEJO

Johann Chua and James Aranas endured some tense moments to deliver a performance to remember in Lugo, Spain, nipping the German duo of Joshua Filler and Moritz Neuhausen, 11-7, to crown themselves the kings of the 2023 World Cup of Pool 9-ball Championship early Monday morning, July 3.

Johann Chua (left) and James Aranas celebrate their World Cup win. (Photo from Matchroom Pool)

Unseeded in the tournament with a tough task on hand, the pair completed the improbable run which could serve as a spark for the country's resurgence in the sport the Filipinos used to dominate in the past two decades.

Adding cherry on top, the victory broke the tie in overall wins as the Philippines bagged its fourth title against China's three after the 2006 and 2009 triumph of Efren "Bata" Reyes and Francisco Bustamante, and the 2013 conquest of Dennis Orcollo and Lee Van Corteza.

Also credit their steely resolve for winning one of toughest fields ever after toppling defending champions Francisco Sanchez Ruiz and David Alcaide of Spanish A, 7-5, right in the first round.

They actually fell 2-1 after the first three racks, but sensing danger, they pushed the beast mode button after that and went on a tear, winning the next 8 frames as their confidence steadily fortified.

Drama then came into play once again as Filler and Neuhaussen won the next five frames in their race-to-11 tussle to inch closer at 9-7.

In the 17th rack Chua drained a crucial 8-ball after it was hit by number 2 ball to reach the hill before finishing them on with another virtuoso performance in the final rack.

The win was worth $60,000 (roughly P3.3 million) for the Filipino duo, but more than that it pushed the Philippines ahead of China for the most number of titles.

They advanced to the finals by pulling off similar riveting 9-8 wins over Taiwanese Ko Ping Chung and Ko Pin Yi in the quarters and two-time champion Mario He and Albin Ouschan of Austria in the semifinals.