by Jonas Terrado
The Philippine team of Carlo Biado and Jeff de Luna downed the Albanian duo of Eklent Kaci and Besar Spahju, 7-5, to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup of Pool at Morningside Arena in Leicester, England.
Biado and De Luna won three consecutive racks to go on the hill at 6-3 before weathering Kaci and Spahju’s comeback attempt to reach the last eight of the annual nine-ball doubles competition.
Their win was a followed-up to a 7-6 triumph over Roman Hybler and Michal Gaveniak of Czech Republic in the first round.
Up next for the pair is a quarters duel with Canada’s Filipino-born Alex Pagulayan and John Morra which was being played at presstime.
Pagulayan, who once represented the Philippines, and Morra edged Estonia’s Denis Grabe and Mark Magi, 7-6.
Biado and De Luna are aiming to give the Philippines its fourth title in the World Cup of Pool.
Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante won twice in 2006 at Newport, Wales and 2009 in Manila before Dennis Orcollo and Lee Van Corteza ruled the 2013 edition held in London.
