Justin Chua breaking out of his shell with Phoenix

Justin Chua has transformed from a seldom-used player traded multiple times to a key contributor for playoff-bound Phoenix in the PBA Philippine Cup, now leading the league in blocked shots.

Chua recorded a conference-high 5 blocks in Phoenix's come-from-behind 100-95 win over Blackwater, securing the team's quarterfinals berth and ending their two-conference playoff drought. He leads the league with a 1.9 blocks per game average, while also averaging 12.4 points and 6.5 rebounds for the Fuel Masters.

Phoenix head coach Topex Robinson praised Chua's coachability, willingness to ask questions, and openness to trying new things and innovating, even if it leads to mistakes. Robinson expressed happiness that Chua "finally broke out of his shell."

Chua struggled to establish himself early in his PBA career, playing for four different teams in four years before joining Phoenix. The Fuel Masters proved to be a perfect fit, allowing him to turn his career around over the past three seasons.

A significant indicator of Chua's resurgence was his selection to play for Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers earlier this year. Robinson revealed motivating Chua by highlighting his experience across five teams and emphasizing it was the best time for him to make himself valuable, which Chua embraced.