XIMENDING, WANHUA DISTRICT — Filipino pool player Carlo Biado triumphed over his younger compatriot Bernie Regalario in the all-Filipino final of the 2024 Chinese Taipei 9-Ball Open on Friday night at Hulk Billiards hall.
Biado, aged 40 and a 2017 Poland World Games gold medalist, clinched the title with a 13-7 victory, securing a prize of USD10,000 (approximately PHP558,000). On the other hand, the 19-year-old rising star Regalario earned USD5,000 for his runner-up position.
According to Philippines News Agency, To reach the championship round, Biado defeated Chang Yu-Lung from the host country with a score of 11-9. His path to the final also included impressive wins over several notable competitors. He overcame World No. 1 and world champion Francisco Sanchez Ruiz of Spain with a score of 10-5 in the quarterfinals, followed by a dominating 10-0 victory against Liu Yun-Cheng of Chinese Taipei in the last 16, and a 9-3 win over Bui Troung An of Vietnam in the round of 32. Celebrating his victory, Biado expressed his gratitude on Facebook, posting, "Thank you, God! It's all yours."
Regalario's journey to the final was equally remarkable. He narrowly defeated Aloysius Yapp of Singapore 11-10 in the semifinal. His tournament run also included victories over fellow Filipino and Marboys Billiards Club teammate Michael Feliciano 10-8 in the quarterfinals, and wins against local players Tang Ching-Ting 10-5 in the Last 16, and Kuo Wei-Hsuan 9-1 in the Round of 32. Reflecting on his performance, Regalario shared his gratitude on Facebook, stating, "I'm still very grateful for making it to the final. Congratulations, kuya (older brother)!"
Other members of the Marboys Billiards Club, including Johann Chua, James Aranas, Anton Raga, Jeffrey Ignacio, Kyle Amoroto, Marvin Asis, and Jefrey Roda, also participated in the tournament, showcasing the depth of talent in Filipino billiards.
Quezon City - In a crucial game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday night, San Miguel Beer triumphed over Blackwater with a score of 125-117, securing a significant twice-to-beat advantage in the PBA Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals.According to Philippines News Agency, the victory propelled San Miguel Beer to an 8-3 finish in the elimination round, guaranteeing them a Top 4 finish and the accompanying quarterfinal bonus. Despite leading by 17 points early in the third quarter and maintaining a comfortable lead near the start of the final period, San Miguel Beer faced a resilient challenge from Blackwater, who narrowed the gap to just two points with over 10 minutes left in the game.
Responding to Blackwater's 12-0 run, San Miguel Beer managed to extend their lead once again. However, Blackwater kept the pressure on, closing the gap to a single point with 6:27 remaining on the clock. After a missed opportunity by Blackwater's Bradwyn Guinto at the free-throw line, San Miguel Beer took control with a decisive 12-2 run, solidifying their lead with only 1:14 left in the game.
Despite a late surge from Blackwater, San Miguel Beer clinched the win, bolstered by six consecutive free throws from Jericho Cruz. Bennie Boatwright was a standout performer for San Miguel Beer, scoring 44 points, including eight three-pointers, and contributing 12 rebounds and five assists. CJ Perez and June Mar Fajardo also made significant contributions to the victory.
The game's outcome leaves San Miguel Beer in a strong position, potentially finishing as high as second depending on the results of upcoming games, including Phoenix's clash with TNT.
On the other side, Chris Ortiz's impressive 43-point performance for Blackwater was not enough to prevent their 10th consecutive loss, concluding their conference with a 1-10 record.
In related news, Meralco enhanced their chances for a twice-to-beat quarterfinal advantage after defeating Terrafirma, moving to an 8-3 record. Shonn Miller led Meralco with 29 points and 21 rebounds, while Terrafirma's Stephen Holt's career-high 26 points proved insufficient to avoid their eighth consecutive loss.
The PBA Commissioner's Cup continues to deliver thrilling basketball action as teams jostle for positioning in the crucial quarterfinal stages.