Pia Filler sunk the winning ten ball in an epic shootout as Germany were crowned the WPA World Teams Championship winners in Puerto Rico, overcoming the Taiwanese team in Sunday evening’s thrilling final.
Filler executed a nerveless sudden-death shot to reign victorious alongside husband Joshua and Moritz Neuhausen, denying Chinese Taipei, consisting of Chang Jung-Lin, Wu Kun-Lin and Chou Chieh-Yu, a second success.
“It’s an incredible feeling to make the money ball and to do it for my team, especially because I played bad in the single’s matches,” a candid Filler admitted. “I just thought that’s my chance to redeem myself. It’s been an incredible week.”
“I’m just over the moon. I’m glad that she made the last ball because I didn’t want to get back to the table,” her husband Joshua laughed. “I think ‘believe’ is the right word for what we did. We never stopped believing in ourselves and our teammates.”
Pia Filler was whitewashed 4-0 in the opening set as Chou produced a commanding display, and the German trio soon found themselves two sets behind following Wu’s 4-3 win over Neuhausen.
Chang and Chou were on the team when Chinese Taipei became world champions in 2012 and they seemingly had one hand on the trophy once again, although Germany remained resilient as their star stepped up to the table.
Joshua Filler played a key role in his and Pia’s mixed doubles win over Chang and Chou, before comfortably overcoming the former to force a fifth set and therefore a shootout.
Both teams displayed incredible skill under immense pressure as the initial four spot shots found pockets, however, Wu missed his attempt and allowed teenager Neuhausen an opportunity to close out the title but he was unsuccessful.
Another unfortunate error from the Taiwanese team, this time from women’s number one Chou, granted Germany a second chance of reigning victorious and on this occasion they duly delivered.
Pia Filler struck the ten ball with poise and precision in a shot worth $120,000, before bursting into tears as she celebrated alongside her husband. All three players soon jumped onto the table in a team huddle with immense pride and proudness.
Neuhausen, who a beaten finalist alongside Joshua Filler at July’s World Cup of Pool in Spain, said: “It was an up and down [tournament], we still can’t believe it. In the end, we somehow won.
“I missed for the title, and I’m glad that Pia made it because I couldn’t hold the nerves anymore. It was an amazing event – we had so much fun and that’s the most important thing.”
Germany had defeated Austria’s Albin Ouschan, Mario He and Jasmin Ouschan in the semi-finals and Spain’s Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, David Alcaide and Mayte Ropero in the quarter-finals, with their team camaraderie ultimately shining through.
The Taiwanese team, meanwhile, ended the Portuguese dream at the penultimate hurdle, having come through a thrilling shootout against last year’s runners-up Great Britain beforehand, with Kelly Fisher being rushed into her attempt by the shot clock.
Portugal’s Joao Grilo, Miguel Silva, Sara Rocha and Vania Franco were the surprise packages of the tournament, beating both the Japanese and the South Korean teams on their way to securing bronze medals.
