Filipino pool masters Johann Chua and Jeffrey Ignacio are leading the way for the country’s bid when the Kantuo Open 10-Ball Championships gets underway on Saturday, February 24, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan.
"I will do my very best for flag and country," said the 25-years-old Malaysia Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist Chua, who beat compatriot Jundel Mazon, 11-2, to rule the 2017 All Japan 10-Ball Championship held in Hyogo, Japan last November.
Last October, Chua also finished second in the men’s division after losing to Taiwanese Liu Cheng-Chieh in the gold-medal match. Chua took home the KRW 15,000,000 runner-up purse in the 2017 Guri International 9-Ball Championship held at the Guri Sports Complex in Guri City in South Korea.
Former World Pool Championships semi-finalists Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo, ABC president and chairman of Barangay Malamig in Mandaluyong City had something to say:
"I believe they’re our strongest bets,” Manalo referring the impressive performance of Chua and Ignacio for performing great in the international competition in Japan, Korea and the United States.
"I think we have a strong chance of winning the Kantuo Open 10-Ball Championships in Japan," added Manalo, Press Relation Officer (PRO) of League of Barangays of the Philippines who represents a membership of almost 42,000 barangays.
Last Sunday, February 18, 2018, the two Filipino pool sharks made a friendly exhibition match.
Meanwhile, Allison Fisher of Great Britain, Naoyuki Ooi, Toru Kuribayashi, Hijikata Hayato and Lo Li wen of Japan are among big names will be seeing in action in the Kantuo Open 10-Ball Championships.
After Tokyo, Japan, Chua is schedule to compete in Yogyakarta, Indonesia for another 10-ball Championships slated on March 3 to 11, 2018.
