By JEROME LAGUNZAD
Reigning world 9-ball champion Carlo Biado and compatriot Jeffrey De Luna open their title hunt in the 2018 World Cup of Pool with guarded optimism as they take on New Zealand today at the Luwan Arena in Shanghai, China. Biado, 34, and De Luna, 33, are hoping that they could surpass their initial test in the 32-team, single elimination tournament in the form of Kiwi pair, Matt Edwards and Marco Teutscher.
The match is set at 1:30 p.m. “Knockout system from the start kaya pressure game talaga. Kailangan lahat ng tira mahigpit at kargado. Hindi dapat luwagan. Kaya dapat sigurado sa lahat ng tira,” Biado said in an earlier interview.
The Philippines, the winningest country in the most prestigious 9-ball doubles tourney with three titles, is bidding to reclaim lost glory since Dennis Orcollo and Lee Van Corteza topped the 2013 edition in London, England.
Former world champions Efren “Bata” Reyes and Django Bustamante proved to be a winning pair as they ruled the tourney twice, the inaugural edition back in 2006 in Wales and the 2009 tilt in Manila.
Biado will be making his third crack in the six-day tourney which dangles a total prize money of $250,000, with the eventual champion bringing home $60,000.
De Luna, ranked 16th in the world, will be making his initial foray in the event where Austria is the defending champion.
