Carlo Biado halts Roland Garcia, tops World 9-ball

MANILA, Philippines — From carrying golf clubs to setting tables for others in his younger days, Pinoy cuemaster Carlo Biado has come to his own, earning the right to have his name mentioned alongside the great Efren “Bata” Reyes, Francisco “Django” Bustamante and Ronnie Alcano.

Long considered the next big thing in Philippine billiards and prospective world champ, former caddie and pool house hand delivered the goods at last by completing an undefeated run to the 2017 world 9-ball title Thursday night in Doha, Qatar.

“I feel I’m one of them so I’m very happy,” Biado said of the thought of joining Reyes, Bustamante, Alcano, and even Filipino-born Canadian Alex Pagulayan in the elite roster of world champs.

The 34-year-old Biado steamrolled all his opponents in the $200,000 event, putting the finishing touches with a 13-5 demolition of Roland Garcia in an all-Filipino finale.

“There was less pressure because whoever won, a Filipino would get the title,” said Biado. “I felt comfortable in the finals, that’s why I played well, and the balls were in easy positions (after the break).”

The pride of Rosario, La Union turned pro in 2004 but had fallen short of a world title until now. He previously came closest in 2015 when he placed second in the 10-ball worlds.

The year 2017 turned out to be Biado’s breakout year.

In August, he delivered the country’s lone gold medal in the World Games in Wroclaw, Poland, beating Jayson Shaw for the 9-ball plum.  

“That gave me confidence (going to the next competitions), said Biado, who followed that World Games romp with a mint in the Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia a month later and a bronze at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Turkmenistan.

But the world 9-ball crown shone the brightest.

“It’s a long time and I had so many disappointments and worked so hard and now I finally got the title,” said Biado, $40,000 richer with this breakthough win.

The 34-year-old Biado steamrolled all his opponents in the $200,000 event, putting the finishing touches with a 13-5 demolition of Roland Garcia in an all-Filipino finale.

“There was less pressure because whoever won, a Filipino would get the title,” said Biado. “I felt comfortable in the finals, that’s why I played well, and the balls were in easy positions (after the break).”