Fourteen Filipino cue masters, including former champion Carlo Biado, kicked off their campaigns with dominant wins in the early rounds of the World Pool Championship in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Biado, who clinched the title in 2017, began his quest for another crown with a 9-5 victory over Jan Van Lierop. Fellow veterans Johann Chua and Lee Van Corteza also impressed, defeating Mohammed Al-Balkhi, 9-0, and Al Waleed Al-Mudayan, 9-7, respectively.
The Philippines’ momentum continued as Roland Garcia pulled off a convincing 9-4 win over Niels Feijen. Marvin Asis edged David Alcaide in a nail-biting 9-8 finish, while Jeffrey Roda matched that effort with his own 9-8 escape against Fraser Patrick.
Other Filipino winners included Anton Raga, Bernie Regalado, Patric Gonzales, James Aranas, Michael Baoanan, Jeffrey Ignacio, and AJ Manas. Manas defeated fellow Filipino Alexis Ferrer, 9-6, in an all-Pinoy match-up.
Each of them now stands one win away from reaching the single-elimination round of 64. Players who falter in the next round can still earn a spot through the loser’s bracket.
Meanwhile, Ferrer, Marlon Caneda, and Rogelio Sotero must win back-to-back matches to stay in contention.
All 17 Filipino players are chasing a shared goal — to bring home the country’s first World Pool Championship title since Biado’s triumph over Garcia in 2017. The Philippines boasts a rich legacy in the sport, with legends like Efren “Bata” Reyes, Ronnie Alcano, and Francisco “Django” Bustamante also having won the prestigious title.
