World Cup champion Aranas wants to be a national athlete

By Randy Caluag

MORE popularly known by his nickname Dodong Diamond, James Aranas is one of the most feared cue artists in the local billiards circuit. He has won countless local tournaments and lost some, but not after “killing some giants” along the way.

But his recent World Cup victory in Spain has suddenly put him on the elite list of the new generation of billiards masters, like his World Cup partner and long-time friend Johann Chua and Carlo Biado. His luck continued as he extended his win streak in a week’s span, winning the Bandung 10 Ball Open against some of Asia’s best, including Chua.

“If this is a dream, I don’t want to wake up yet. I ended up winning this event. Thank you, Lord, for all the blessings I am receiving right now. I can