Zoren James Aranas (born April 29, 1992) is a Filipino professional pool player from Cavite, Philippines, nicknamed "Dodong Diamond".[1][2] Aranas won the 2019 Super Billiard Expo Championship[3] and the 2023 World Cup of Pool with Johann Chua.[4]
Career
editIn 2018, Aranas secured his first international title after he defeated Chris Melling twice in the first Annual Asian Culture Day held at the Orleans Hotel and Casino Las Vegas. This was an opening event on the Efren Reyes retirement tour.[5] The following year, Aranas won the ten-ball event at the Super Billiard Expo Diamond Open, defeating Oscar Dominguez 13–10 in the final.[3]
In 2022, Aranas reached the finals of APP Asian 9-Ball Open held in Singapore but would lose to Taiwan's Ko Pin-yi, 11–13.[6]
At the 2023 World Cup of Pool, he was selected to represent the Philippines with partner Johann Chua. They reached the final, where they played the German team of Joshua Filler and Moritz Neuhausen. They won the final 11–7 in the final.[7] The team were the first to win the World Cup of Pool despite entering as an unseeded team.[8]
Personal life
editAranas was deported and banned from the United States for five years in February 2022. He had been using a tourist visa instead of one designed for an athlete.[9]
In 2024, the San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) recognised Aranas, Chua and Centeno for their remarkable achievements in billiards.[10][11]
The SMC-PSA awards honour the distinction, commitment, and accomplishments of athletes and organisations that have made a substantial impact on the nation's success on the international stage.
Titles and achievements
edit- 2024 CPBA Nine-ball Teams Invitational (Philippines vs. Chinese Taipei)
- 2023 Bandung Open Ten-ball Championship[12]
- 2023 World Cup of Pool - with (Johann Chua)
- 2023 Manny Pacquiao Cup Ten-ball Doubles - with (Jeffrey Ignacio)[13]
- 2021 TTMD Ten-ball Open[14]
- 2021 Annual Brendan Crockett Memorial[15][16]
- 2020 Scotty Townsend Memorial Nine-ball[17]
- 2019 Super Billiard Expo Diamond Ten-ball Open[3]
- 2019 Barry Behrman Memorial[18]
- 2019 Beasley Custom Cue Open Nine-ball[19]
- 2019 Predator Qualifier Ten-ball Championship[20]
- 2019 Star City Ten-ball Shootout[21]
- 2018 Music City Classic Open[22]
- 2018 Scotty Townsend Memorial Nine-ball[23]
- 2018 Annual Bob Stocks Memorial[16]
- 2018 Pro-Am Bar box Championship[24]
- 2018 Barry Behrman Memorial[25]
- 2018 1st Annual Culture Day Open Ten-ball[26]
- 2018 Maryland State Nine-ball[27]
- 2017 Action Pool Tour Eight-ball Division[28]
References
edit- ^ "Believe You Me: Dodong Diamond". AzBilliards Forums. 2018-04-17. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ Caluag, Randy (2023-07-19). "World Cup champion Aranas wants to be a national athlete". Manila Standard. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ a b c "Aranas goes undefeated to win Diamond 10-Ball Pro Players Championship at 27th SBE - News - AZBILLIARDS.COM". AzBilliards. 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ "Johann Chua, James Aranas capture PH's record fourth World Cup of Pool title". cnn. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ "1st Annual Asian Culture Day Open 10-Ball Event - The Orleans - May 16 - 19th, 2018 - Results - AZBILLIARDS.COM". AzBilliards. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ "James Aranas finishes second in Asian 9-ball after close loss to Ko Pin Yi". Spin.ph. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ Dioquino, Delfin (2023-07-05). "Johann Chua-James Aranas friendship culminates with World Cup of Pool crown". RAPPLER. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ Dioquino, Delfin (2023-07-02). "Johann Chua, James Aranas capture record 4th World Cup of Pool crown for PH". RAPPLER. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
- ^ "James Aranas Latest Player To Be "Deported" and Banned from Entering USA - News - AZBILLIARDS.COM". AzBilliards. 2022-02-08. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ Times, Tiebreaker (2024-01-14). "Fajardo, Bolden, SBP, JJFP to receive top honors at PSA Awards Night". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved 2024-02-10.
- ^ Tribune, Daily (2024-01-10). "Ochoa, Ramirez, Yulo lead PSA major awardees". Retrieved 2024-02-10.
- ^ "Fresh from World Cup triumph, Aranas rules 10-Ball tilt in Indonesia". Tempo - The Nation's Fastest Growing Newspaper. 2023-07-12. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ "SEN. MANNY PACQUIAO KALILANGAN 2023 10-BALL OPEN DOUBLES". CueScore. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ "Aranas wins two-stage, $10k-added 10-Ball Championships in Virginia - News - AZBILLIARDS.COM". AzBilliards. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ "The young, the middle and the old(er) meet in final matches of Brendan Crockett Memorial - News - AZBILLIARDS.COM". AzBilliards. 2021-08-10. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ a b "Aranas goes undefeated to capture APT title at 12th Annual Bob Stocks Memorial - News - AZBILLIARDS.COM". AzBilliards. 2018-04-09. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ "2020 Scotty Townsend Memorial Open 9-Ball - Arena Billiards - March 3 - 9th, 2020 - Home - AZBILLIARDS.COM". AzBilliards. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ "Aranas goes undefeated to defend his title at the 3rd Annual Barry Behrman Memorial - News - AZBILLIARDS.COM". AzBilliards. 2019-04-10. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ "Aranas comes back from semifinals to down Woodward and win Beasley Custom Cues 9-Ball Open - News - AZBILLIARDS.COM". AzBilliards. 2019-06-05. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ "Aranas wins Predator Pro Am qualifier to CSI Predator World 10-Ball Championship - News - AZBILLIARDS.COM". AzBilliards. 2019-06-25. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ "Aranas Over Ussery In a Nailbiter at Star City 10-Ball Shootout - News - AZBILLIARDS.COM". AzBilliards. 2019-11-14. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ "Music City Classic 2018 Open Division - JOB Billiards - January 10 - 14th, 2018 - Home - AZBILLIARDS.COM". AzBilliards. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ "2018 Scotty Townsend Memorial Open 9-Ball - Arena Billiards - March 16 - 23rd, 2018 - Home - AZBILLIARDS.COM". AzBilliards. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ "Super Billiards Expo 2018 Pro-Am Barbox Championship - Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks - April 12 - 15th, 2018 - Home - AZBILLIARDS.COM". AzBilliards. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ "Aranas downs defending champ Shuff twice to win 2nd Annual Barry Behrman Memorial at Q Master - News - AZBILLIARDS.COM". AzBilliards. 2018-04-23. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ "Aranas, Fisher And Marks Victorious In Vegas - News - AZBILLIARDS.COM". AzBilliards. 2018-05-20. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ "Aranas goes undefeated, downing 'Klenti' Kaci twice to claim MD State 9-Ball Title - News - AZBILLIARDS.COM". AzBilliards. 2018-06-05. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ "Aranas drops in on the Action Pool Tour and goes undefeated to claim event title. - News - AZBILLIARDS.COM". AzBilliards. 2017-08-09. Retrieved 2024-01-30.