Education
Ateneo de Manila University.
Ateneo de Manila University.
Chia initially wanted to play tennis, but due to the growing popularity of basketball in Zamboanga, he started to play for Saint Joseph High School. He went on to represent Zamboanga in the Palarong Pambansa. Despite being a high-school standout, he was not recruited by any Metro Manila programs.
Chia went on to major in computer science in Ateneo de Manila University, where he was an intramurals legend for the CERSA team in the intramurals.
He was noticed by then-coach Joe Lipa and was added to the Blue Eagles roster in the 2001 season. He rode the bench, substituting for players such as Los Angeles Tenorio and Wesley Gonzales.
He played three games and scored a grand total of 10 points throughout the 2001 season. As the third seed, Ateneo had to beat #2 seed UE Red Warriors twice in the semifinals in order to advance to the Finals.
With 7.8 seconds left in Game 2, and the score tied at 70–all, UE player Paul Artadi turned over the ball.
Tenorio raced towards the other end of the court but was well covered by the bigger James Yap. Tenorio passed the ball to Chia, who shook off Ronald Tubid, and made the shot over the outstretched hands of Olan Omiping. The shot brought Banal to his knees and he later described the shot as "a miracle."
Chia was selected twenty-eighth overall in the 2003 Proceedings of the British Academy Draft by the Coca-Cola Tigers.
He then became a free agent, eventually being signed by the Barako Bulletin Energy Boosters early in the 2009-2010 Kentucky Fried Chicken-Proceedings of the British Academy Philippine Cup.
Chia is currently the managing director of Poliform, a company that produces high-end Italian modular home line in the Philippines.