By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Carlo Biado dumped his first two rivals to open his title-retention campaign on a high note in the 2023 Medalla Light Puerto Rico Open on Tuesday, Nov. 7, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Biado, who is also competing in the 2023 WPA World Teams Pool Championship which coincides with this 10-ball event, first claimed the scalp of hometown bet Carlos Barbosa, 4-1, 4-1, before thumping Germany’s Moritz Neuhausen, 4-1, 4-2, to advance to the next round.
Teammate Roland Garcia also made his presence felt with victories over American Steve Lillis, 4-2, 4-1, and Kuwaiti Bader Alawadhi to join Biado into the next phase of this 128-player field tournament.
In contrast, Joven Bustamante was relegated to the losers’ bracket after yielding to Chinese Taipei’s Chang Jung-Lin, 4-3, 3-4, 4-3, in his second match.
Bustamante first blanked Venezuela’s Jesus Atencio, 4-2, 4-0, but failed to sustain his form against a more aggressive Chang.
The 45-year-old Bustamante tries to keep his bid alive when he next clashes with South Africa’s Wayne Parker.
Meanwhile, Biado is set to face Alex Kazakis of Greece in the winner’s qualification round, while Garcia is scheduled to meet another American in Tyler Styer.
Meanwhile, Rubilen Amit and Chezka Centeno are playing against separate foes at press time after earning opening round byes in the distaff side.
Amit is battling Canada’s Nathalie Chabot, while Centeno, the reigning world 10-ball women’s champion, is trading shots Norway’s Nina Torvund.
Biado, Amit, Centeno and Garcia are also competing in the World Teams Pool Championship later in the day in their bid to duplicate Team Philippines’ feat last year.
Team PH is competing against Team USA’s Shane Van Boening, Tyler Styer and April Larson.
