Biado becomes PHL’s first 2-time 9-ball world champ

WHEN Efren “Bata” Reyes emerged as the country’s first World Pool champion around three decades ago, it served as a catalyst for a new generation of Filipinos to dream that same glorious dream.

One of them is Carlo Biado. And on this one Saturday night in a cavernous hall in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Mr. Biado exuded the same magnificence of Mr. Reyes, his idol, in topping the World Pool Championship.

Not even the fearsome World No. 1 and last year’s titlist Fedor Gorst of the US could block Mr. Biado’s road to greatness as the latter carved an epic 15-13 victory in the nail-baiting finale that overflowed with spectacular shot after spectacular shot.

When Mr. Biado sank the final ball, he couldn’t control his emotions, screamed in jubilation, climbed on top of the pool table where he frantically celebrated again in acknowledgement of the loud, adoring crowd, including flag-waving Filipinos.

He then sat to gather himself, and after a few minutes, went straight to Mr. Gorst and shook hands, embracing his worthy foe.

When it was all over, Mr. Biado was in utter disbelief that he had done what no other Filipino before him, including the iconic Reyes himself, had accomplished — top the strongest 9-ball tilt on the planet twice.

The first one came eight years ago in Doha, Qatar where he beat countryman Roland Garcia, 13-5.

The long wait was worth it.

Mr. Biado also became the seventh player to win the meet more than once in an elite group that included Mr. Gorst himself.

The only one standing taller in this league of extraordinary gentlemen was American Earl Strickland, who has three.

And Mr. Biado will have a chance at shooting for the stars as he seeks to duplicate the feat and join Mr. Strickland at the pedestal starting next year.

Mr. Biado delivered the country its sixth title in the event after Mr. Reyes (1999), Alex Pagulayan (2004), Ronnie Alcano (2006), Francisco Bustamante (2010) and himself.

It was a rollercoaster duel with Mr. Gorst roaring to a strong start, 2-0, before Mr. Biado went on a spree of superb shotmaking, snatching the next nine racks to go up, 9-2.

But Mr. Gorst went on a tear himself and caught up to Mr. Biado at 9-9.

The Filipino charged back again and captured the next four frames to go 13-9 up before the American stubbornly clawed back again to knot it at 13-all.

It proved to be Mr. Gorst’s final gasp as Mr. Biado sent him packing by taking the last two racks and the triumph.

For his effort, Mr. Biado pocketed $250,000, or a cool P14. 3 million.

But more than the mammoth purse, Mr. Biado took the one that mattered the most for all Filipinos back home and across the globe — the honor of producing another world champion from this archipelagic nation.

And it all started with the man that first paved the way for all in Reyes. — Joey Villar