Filipino ace Carlo Biado defeated Great Britain’s Jayson Shaw, 11-7, in the 9-ball men's pool finals to pocketed the country's first-ever gold medal in the quadrennial World Games in Wroclaw, Poland on Saturday (Sunday morning in Manila).
Biado tied the match at 7-all count after winning the 14th racks. Then he never looked back by taking the next five racks enroute the coveted title.
"Just finished in World Games Wroclaw 2017 as a "Gold medalist" champion in Men's 9 ball. First I just want to thank God for everything. To my family and supporters.
This is my first time to play in World Games and Its my honor to represent our country "Philippines"," the 33-year-old San Juna, La Union native said in his facebook account.
"Thanks to my sponsor, Predator Cues, Philippine Sports Commission," added Biado, a habitue of Star Billiard Center.
It shall be recalled that Dennis Orcollo won bronze medal during the World men’s 9-ball in 2014 edition in Cali, Columbia.
Biado and Orcollo, both honed their skills playing the star-studded Bugsy Promotions.
On the road to the finals, Biado toppled Joshua Filler of Germany, 11-5, in the Round-of-16, Mieszko Fortunski of Poland, in the quarter-finals and Japan’s Naoyuki Oi, 11-7, in the semis to arrange a titular showdown with Shaw.
Shaw toppled Taipei’s Ko Pin-Yi, 11-6, in the other semis pairing.
Meanwhile, Filipina Chezka Luy Centeno was yielded to China’s Han Yu, 9-3, during their playoff for the bronze.
The 18-year-old pride of Zamboanga City, the 2016 Amway eSpring International Women 9-ball Championship Champion held in Banqiao Gymnasium in New Taipei City, also bowed to China’s Chen Siming, 6-9, earlier in the semifinals.
Siming will play Korea's Ga Young Kim for the women's 9-ball gold.
Biado and Centeno will see action in the upcoming 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Aug. 19-30. (Marlon Bernardino)
