After bouncing from one team to another at the early part of his Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) career, Bacolodnon big man Justin Chua found a home at the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters.
The former Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles slot man emerged as the Fuel Masters’ top center during the just-concluded 2020 PBA Philippine Cup at the AUF Sports Arena and Cultural Center in Pampanga.
Chua was solid all-conference long, including a career-best 17 rebounds performance in Fuel Masters’ 110-103 win over San Miguel Beermen.
Fuel Masters head coach Michael “Topex” Robinson said he was not surprised with the rise of the Bacolod City-native Chua as the team’s consistent rebounder and defensive stopper as well.
“What we love about Justin is he’s so coachable. He’s always gonna ask you questions, he will not hesitate to try things, gamble on things, and innovate,” Robinson said on the third-year Phoenix center.
“He is going to make mistakes but he is receptive and we are just happy for him that Justin broke out of his shell,” he added. “‘Yung tinuro lang sa kanya is the mindset of him to believe in himself. Super basic.”
“I just told him, you’ve been in this league for a while, you’ve been to five teams already and this is the best time to make yourself valuable,” he said. “Whether it’s your defense or your three-point shooting, make yourself valuable. ‘Yun ang importante sa kanya and he embraced it.”
The 31-year-old Chua was a former standout of Trinity Christian School in Bacolod City before suiting up for Chiang Kai Shek College and later to the Blue Eagles in the UAAP.
In the PBA, Chua started his career with GlobalPort Batang Pier before moving to San Miguel Beermen, Barako Bull Energy, TNT Tropang Texters, Meralco Bolts and the Fuel Masters. He won a PBA championship when he was still with the Beermen.
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Thursday evening became a Knockout Bonanza of an event as Sanman main protagonists ended their fights via sensational stoppages at the SanMan Gym in General Santos City.
In the main event, World Boxing Organization (WBO) world ranked super flyweight KJ Cataraja (12-0) stayed unbeaten as he stopped John Mark Apolinario in the opening round.
In the co-featured bout, former world title contender Jeo Santisima floored Marjun Piencenaves twice in the second round before finally ending the fight in the same round.
In another featured bout, World Boxing Council number one ranked Melvin Jerusalem dominated Jason Francisco from the opening bell before stopping him in the second round courtesy of a vicious body shot.
In the undercard, Esneth Domingo improved to a 14-1 record as he stopped Gerald Alvarez also in the second round. Meanwhile, Regie Manangquil ran short of scoring a knockout win but managed to escape a victory via unanimous decision in the sixth round against Rio Golipatan./PN
