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Friday, January 07, 2005
Chua: Wonder kid of billiards
MOST billiard players have a common history. They started playing at a very young age and later on carved a name for themselves.
Twelve-year-old Johann "Bubwit" Chua is not getting any farther from the trend.
Math was his favorite subject but he stopped schooling after his third grade at Hope Christian University, Manila to focus on billiards.
Though he also digs basketball, his father encouraged him to concentrate on billiards. "Paminsan-minsan lang, kasi ang basketball nakakasira sa pulso, so hindi ko siya pinapayagan. Naiintindihan rin naman niya," says his father Johnny, who also gave him the name "Bubwit."
"I was called Bubwit because I was so small my father hardly see me when I play billiards," he laughingly explains.
"Bubwit" first picked up the cue when he was nine.
"When he started playing with a toy billiard table, I asked him to try the real one. He plays fairly good so I let him join a nine-ball tournament," added his father, who is his constant companion in every stint.
"I saw his potential so I supported him otherwise his talent will come to naught," Johnny shares.
"This must be a gift, kasi walang nagturo sa kanya and not anyone in the family plays billiards. I was the only one who had an idea about it but not much. In fact, he would even teach me."
It was in Spotters Billiard where he first joined a tournament. A few months after, he got his first trophy.
His achievements then followed one after another.
Last year, he was named Class A Champion in the Rack and Roll Billiards Caf, 9-Ball Shootout at the Fat's Family KTV and Billiards; mixed doubles champion during the National Sports Grill Father's Day 9-Ball Billiards Tournament; eighth qualifier in Solar Sports' Philippines 9-Ball Tournament and the Search for Tanduay's No. 1 Billiard Player.
Young as he is, he already has more than 20 trophies, his father told Sun.Star Iloilo.
Asked if he is intimidated by his opponents, he just smiled. His father explained in his behalf.
"He's shy."
"By nature, he's born a fighter. Nothing scares him. He doesn't crack under pressure. For him, the competition is an ordinary thing."
His favorite player is Mika Immonen who became the World Champion last 2001.
But behind his achievements, he is just like any other kid who enjoy making friends and doing normal stuffs. He even has friends older than him.
He's also close to world-class players such as Efren "Bata" Reyes. Alex Pagulayan, with Manny Pacquiao, manages "Bubwit," who is based in Binondo, Manila.
With his achievements, he's definitely on the way to becoming a world-class champion.
You can watch him at NBN's Tanduay Search for the No. 1 Billiard player every Saturday, 8 p.m. (Manila timeslot).
He is also preparing for his upcoming tournaments in February, which will be aired over Solar Sports. (Irene Rose B. Ortigas)
(January 7, 2005 issue)
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