Justin Shaun Rodriguez Chua (born July 13, 1989) is a Filipino professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

player for the NLEX Road Warriors of the

Philippine Basketball Association The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of twelve company-branded franchised teams. Founded in 1975, it is the first professional basketball league in Asia and is the se ...

(PBA). He plays the

center Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics *Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentrici ...

and

power forward The power forward (PF), also known as the four, is one of the five traditional positions in a regulation basketball game. Traditionally, power forwards have played a role similar to centers. When on offense, they typically play with their ba ...

positions. He was the former star player of

Chiang Kai Shek College Chiang Kai-shek College ( tl, Kolehiyo ng Chiang Kai Shek; ) is a Chinese Filipino institution of higher learning founded by Chinese Filipinos, recognized by the government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of China (Taiwan). ...

during his high school days. He played for the

Ateneo de Manila University , mottoeng = Light in the Lord , type = Private, research, non-profit, coeducational basic and higher education institution , established = December 10, 1859 , religious_affiliation = Roman Catholic (Jesuits) , academic_aff ...

before being selected tenth overall in the

2013 PBA draft The 2013 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft was an event, which allows teams to draft players from the amateur ranks. The event was held at Midtown Atrium, Robinson Place Manila on November 3, 2013. Draft lottery The lottery de ...

San Mig Super Coffee Mixers The Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, or simply known as the Magnolia Hotshots, are a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association. The team is owned by San Miguel Pure Foods Company, Inc., San Miguel Food and Bever ...

Early life and high school career

Chua was born in

Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...

but grew up in

Bacolod City Bacolod, officially the City of Bacolod (; hil, Dakbanwa/Syudad sang Bacolod; fil, Lungsod ng Bacolod), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the region of Western Visayas, Philippines. It is the capital of the province of Negros Occident ...

. He first played basketball in Trinity Christian School in Bacolod. He then moved back to Manila when he played for the

Chiang Kai Shek Chiang Kai-shek (31 October 1887 – 5 April 1975), also known as Chiang Chung-cheng and Jiang Jieshi, was a Chinese Nationalist politician, revolutionary, and military leader who served as the leader of the Republic of China (ROC) from 1928 ...

Dragons in the Tiong Lian Basketball Association (now defunct). At the time, he played more inside and took less jump shots. He had 15 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 rebounds in one game. His team won a championship over the

Xavier School English: ''Let your light shine!'' , religious_affiliation = Roman Catholic (Jesuit) , established = , founders = , president = Fr. Aristotle Dy, SJ , chairman = Johnip Cua , administrator = , re ...

Stallions.

College career

Chua's college career started off slow, as he averaged only 0.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in his rookie season, and 2.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.2 assists in his second season. He was able to experience Ateneo's back-to-back championships during that time as a backup to

Rabeh Al-Hussaini Rabeh Ahmed T. Al-Hussaini (born August 11, 1988) is a Filipino professional basketball player who last played for the Blackwater Elite of the PBA. A power forward/center, he played five seasons for the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles in the Univer ...

. In 2010, Chua got his first college start against a smaller

UST Growling Tigers The UST Growling Tigers are the college athletic teams representing the University of Santo Tomas in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. They hold the most UAAP Overall Championships with 44 Seniors' Overall Championships ( ...

team. He scored the first six points of the game for the Eagles, then had eight points and two blocks in the last six minutes of the game, finishing with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 blocks in the win. He became known as a reliable big man lefty who could shoot jumpers. Ateneo won its third straight championship that year over the

FEU Tamaraws The FEU Tamaraws are the varsity teams of Far Eastern University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). The collegiate women's varsity teams are called the ''Lady Tamaraws'' while the high school varsity teams are call ...

. In Season 75, Ateneo began its "Drive For 5" campaign. In Ateneo's win against FEU, FEU forward Arvie Bringas was caught spitting towards Chua. Bringas was thrown out of the game and FEU suspended him for their next two games. Chua stepped up his play when Ateneo lost its center JP Erram to a knee injury. Ateneo won in the Finals again, in two games. They became the first UAAP team to ever complete a five-peat.

Professional career

PBA D-League

Chua played for Blackwater Sports in the

PBA D-League The PBA Developmental League, or PBA D-League, is the Philippine Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. History The PBA D-League was conceptualized after the collapse of the proposed merger between the Philip ...

. He had 17 points in each of the two games of the Finals to help the Elite sweep the four-time defending champions NLEX Road Warriors in the 2013 Foundation Cup.

GlobalPort Batang Pier

Chua was selected tenth overall in the

. He was among six Ateneo players taken in that draft, along with

Greg Slaughter Gregory William Slaughter (born May 19, 1988) is a Filipino-American professional basketball player for the Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka of the B2 League. He was selected first overall by the Barangay Ginebra in the 2013 PBA draft. Sports commentators ...

Ryan Buenafe Ryan Clarence Buenafe (born February 1, 1990) is a Filipino former professional basketball player. From a highly touted high school basketball career with the San Sebastian College–Recoletos Staglets, Buenafe played college basketball for the ...

, Nico Salva, Erram, and Chris Sumalinog. Just two days after the draft, he was traded to the

GlobalPort Batang Pier The NorthPort Batang Pier is a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) team that first played in the 2012–13 PBA season. The team took over the franchise of the Powerade Tigers in 2012 after it was sold to Sultan 900 Capital, Inc. Besides Nor ...

along with

Leo Najorda Leomar S. Najorda (born February 16, 1982, in Bangui, Ilocos Norte) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Koponang Lakan ng Bulacan in the Pilipinas Super League. He was drafted ninth overall by the Red Bull Barako in the 2005 PBA ...

to acquire the rights of Globalport's No. 7 pick overall,

Isaac Holstein Isaac Jackson Holstein V (born September 7, 1987) is a Filipino-American former professional basketball player. He last played for the Barako Bull Energy of the Philippine Basketball Association. He was drafted with the 7th overall pick by the Gl ...

. In GlobalPort's match vs San Mig, he had a costly turnover that lost them the game.

San Miguel Beermen

After they ended their disappointing campaign in the Commissioner's Cup, GlobalPort traded him to the

San Miguel Beermen The San Miguel Beermen are a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). It is one of three PBA clubs owned by the San Miguel Corporation group of companies along with the Magnolia Hotshots and Barangay Ginebra ...

for

Yousef Taha Yousef S. Taha (born July 8, 1988) is a Filipino-Palestinian professional basketball player for the Blackwater Bossing of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He was selected 11th overall in the 2012 PBA draft by the Air21 Express. Prof ...

. He joined a frontcourt that included

June Mar Fajardo June Mar Sotto Fajardo (; born November 17, 1989) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the San Miguel Beermen of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He is also known by his nickname "The Kraken” for his extraordinary siz ...

and

Doug Kramer Douglas Rimorin Kramer (born July 10, 1983) is a Filipino former basketball player. He played for eight teams in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). College career Kramer set a career-high 19 rebounds along with 3 blocks and 16 points ...

. He had just 2 points as he also had three fouls in his debut for the Beermen. He was able to win the 2014-15 Philippine Cup in his time there.

Barako Bull Energy

In 2015, Chua moved to the

Barako Bull Energy The Barako Bull Energy were a Philippine Basketball Association team that began in 2002 as the FedEx Express. From its first season until 2005, the team was dubbed as the FedEx Express before changing to Air21 Express. From the 2009 PBA Fies ...

in a trade that also involved big men Dorian Peña and

Jay-R Reyes Jay-R C. Reyes (born July 16, 1984) is a Filipino former professional basketball player who last played for the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters of the Philippine Basketball Association. Professional career Reyes was the youngest player in the 200 ...

and SMB's 2017 1st round pick. In the 2015 Governors' Cup, he had 12 points in a win over the Bolts.

Meralco Bolts

After his rookie scale contract expired, he agreed to a new contract with the

Meralco Bolts The Meralco Bolts is a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association. The team began in 2010 after the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) acquired the PBA franchise of the Sta. Lucia Realtors. The team is one of three ...

. There, he was reunited with his former college coach

Norman Black Norman Augustus Black (born November 12, 1957) is an American former professional basketball player who played in the CBA, NBA, and PBA. He's the current head coach for the Meralco Bolts. He has since settled in the Philippines. He is also ...

. He had an ACL injury, which impacted his opportunities to play. In the 2017 Commissioner's Cup, he scored all six of his points in the fourth quarter to turn a close game against NLEX into a blowout win. He then had a career-high 14 points while defending import

Cory Jefferson Cory Allen Jefferson (born December 26, 1990) is an American professional basketball who last played for the Atléticos de San Germán of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional. He played college basketball for Baylor University and represented the Uni ...

in a win over the Alaska Aces.

TNT KaTropa

On September 11, 2017, Chua was traded to the

TNT KaTropa The TNT (cellular service), TNT Tropang Giga is a professional basketball team currently owned by Smart Communications, a subsidiary of the PLDT, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), playing in the Philippine Basketball Associat ...

in exchange of a 2019 second round pick. He only played four games for them.

Phoenix Fuel Masters

2017–2018

Chua was traded to the

during the 2017 PBA Draft along with

Sidney Onwubere Sidney Nelson Onwubere (born August 1, 1993) is a Filipino-Nigerian basketball player for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He is a former star player for the EAC Generals. He was selected by the Pho ...

for Jonjon Gabriel and Phoenix's 2019 second round pick. In 2018, he participated in the Obstacle Challenge during All-Star Week.

2019–2021

In the 2019 Philippine Cup, he had a new career-high of 24 points while also grabbing six rebounds against the Bolts. Phoenix could have lost the game in overtime as he missed a game-winning jumper, but his teammate

Calvin Abueva Calvin Abueva (born February 4, 1988) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Magnolia Hotshots of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He was picked second overall by the Alaska Aces during the 2012 PBA Draft. He was nick ...

was there to rebound the miss and score. The following game, he was punched in the fist by TNT player Michael Miranda. Miranda was then fined P30,000 and suspended for one game. Once again, he also participated in the Obstacle Challenge of that year's All-Star Weekend. That conference, Phoenix made its first-ever semifinals. In the semifinals, they lost to the Beermen in five games out of a best-of-seven series, with him having 18 points and 11 rebounds in the Game 5 loss. In the Commissioner's Cup, he scored a game-winning layup against the Aces. During the pandemic, Chua prepared for the 2020 season by working on his shooting and by doing plyometrics. Before the season started, interim coach Topex Robinson was made permanent head coach. In the 2020 Philippine Cup, he had a breakout campaign. He started his season with 17 points in a win against Meralco. In a close win over NLEX, he hit two clutch free throws that sealed the win. He had a career-high 17 rebounds against the Beermen. Then, he had 11 rebounds and 5 blocks against the

Blackwater Elite The Blackwater Bossing is a professional basketball team owned by Ever Bilena, Inc. that is playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) beginning in the 2014–2015 season. The franchise began as one of the founding teams in the PB ...

. He finished the elimination round with a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds against the Rain or Shine Elastopainters. With Coach Robinson's belief, his scoring, three-point shooting, rebounding, and shot-blocking all saw improvement, making him a candidate for the Most Improved Player. They edged the

Magnolia Hotshots The Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, or simply known as the Magnolia Hotshots, are a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association. The team is owned by San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc., a subsidiary of San Migue ...

in the first round, but its finals aspirations fell short as the Fuel Masters lost to the

TNT Katropa The TNT (cellular service), TNT Tropang Giga is a professional basketball team currently owned by Smart Communications, a subsidiary of the PLDT, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), playing in the Philippine Basketball Associat ...

in the knockout game of the semifinals.

Prince Caperal Prince Renmer B. Caperal (born June 12, 1993) is a Filipino basketball player for the NorthPort Batang Pier of the PBA. He was drafted 17th overall by the GlobalPort Batang Pier in the 2014 PBA draft. College Caperal attended Arellano University ...

won Most Improved Player over him. But he won the Top Bubble D-Fender award, as he led the league with 1.6 blocks. In the 2021 Philippine Cup, he had a near double-double of 17 points and nine rebounds. In the Governors' Cup on Christmas Day, he had 19 points in a win against NLEX.

NLEX Road Warriors

During the 2021 Governors' Cup, the NLEX Road Warriors traded Kris Porter and two draft picks for Chua. When they traded for him, Coach

Yeng Guiao Joseller "Yeng" Medina Guiao (born March 19, 1959) is a Filipino professional basketball head coach, politician, commentator and sports commissioner. He is currently the head coach of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters of the Philippine Basketba ...

compared him to a younger J.R. Quiñahan. He had 15 points on three triples in his winning debut over Ginebra.

PBA career statistics

''As of the end of 2021 season''
Real GM

Season-by-season averages

, - , align=left rowspan=2, , align=left , 2013–14 GlobalPort Batang Pier season, GlobalPort , rowspan=2, 29 , , rowspan=2, 10.7 , , rowspan=2, .383 , , rowspan=2, .250 , , rowspan=2, .641 , , rowspan=2, 2.3 , , rowspan=2, .4 , , rowspan=2, .2 , , rowspan=2, .3 , , rowspan=2, 3.7 , - , align=left , San Miguel , - , align=left rowspan=2, , align=left , San Miguel , rowspan=2, 27 , , rowspan=2, 5.9 , , rowspan=2, .250 , , rowspan=2, .000 , , rowspan=2, .789 , , rowspan=2, 1.3 , , rowspan=2, .2 , , rowspan=2, .3 , , rowspan=2, .2 , , rowspan=2, 1.6 , - , align=left , Barako Bull , - , align=left , , align=left ,

Meralco The Manila Electric Company (), also known as Meralco (, ), is an electric power distribution company in the Philippines. It is Metro Manila's only electric power distributor and holds the power distribution franchise for 22 cities and 89 munic ...

, 2 , , 1.5 , , .500 , , – , , – , , – , , – , , – , , – , , 1.0 , - , align=left rowspan=2, , align=left ,

, rowspan=2, 28 , , rowspan=2, 10.9 , , rowspan=2, .330 , , rowspan=2, .167 , , rowspan=2, .808 , , rowspan=2, 1.9 , , rowspan=2, .3 , , rowspan=2, .1 , , rowspan=2, .1 , , rowspan=2, 3.4 , - , align=left ,

TNT Trinitrotoluene (), more commonly known as TNT, more specifically 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, and by its preferred IUPAC name 2-methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, is a chemical compound with the formula C6H2(NO2)3CH3. TNT is occasionally used as a reagen ...

, - , align=left , , align=left ,

Phoenix Phoenix most often refers to: * Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore * Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States Phoenix may also refer to: Mythology Greek mythological figures * Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...

, 34 , , 14.7 , , .456 , , – , , .646 , , 3.7 , , .5 , , .6 , , .4 , , 6.1 , - , align=left , , align=left ,

, 39 , , 21.4 , , .420 , , .231 , , .767 , , 4.4 , , .6 , , .4 , , .7 , , 8.9 , - , align=left , , align=left ,

, 17 , , 27.6 , , .367 , , .345 , , .822 , , 6.6 , , 1.5 , , .6 , , 1.6 , , 11.6 , - , align=left rowspan=2, , align=left ,

, rowspan=2, 26 , , rowspan=2, 18.7 , , rowspan=2, .376 , , rowspan=2, .281 , , rowspan=2, .885 , , rowspan=2, 4.0 , , rowspan=2, .5 , , rowspan=2, .4 , , rowspan=2, .4 , , rowspan=2, 6.8 , - , align=left ,

NLEX The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), signed as E1 of the Philippine expressway network, partially as N160 of the Philippine highway network, and R-8 of the Metro Manila arterial road network, is a limited-access toll expressway that connects M ...

, - , -class=sortbottom , align=center colspan=2 , Career , 202 , , 15.2 , , .391 , , .301 , , .754 , , 3.3 , , .5 , , .4 , , .5 , , 5.8

National team career

He was a part of the

Gilas Pilipinas The Philippines men's national basketball team ( fil, Pambansang koponan ng basketbol ng Pilipinas), commonly known as Gilas Pilipinas, is the basketball team representing the Philippines. The team is managed by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipi ...

window for the February window of the 2021 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers as a replacement for

Japeth Aguilar Japeth Paul Cabrera Aguilar (born January 25, 1987) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He first played college basketball for the Ateneo Blue Eagles of ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chua, Justin 1989 births Living people Ateneo Blue Eagles men's basketball players Barako Bull Energy players Basketball players from Manila Centers (basketball) Filipino men's basketball players Magnolia Hotshots draft picks Meralco Bolts players NLEX Road Warriors players NorthPort Batang Pier players Philippines men's national basketball team players Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters players Power forwards (basketball) San Miguel Beermen players TNT Tropang Giga players