By MARK REY MONTEJO
Veteran Carlo Biado failed to complete what could an amazing comeback from the losers bracket after he uncharacteristically self-destructed against a rival not alien to many Filipino cue artists.
After reaching the hill first, the many-time SEA Games champion tumbled down, leading to a heartbreaking 8-7 defeat to Vietnamese Dương Quốc Hoàng in round of 32 of the 2024 Jacoby Scottish Open at the McGoldrick’s Pool & Sports Bar in Glasgow, United Kingdom over the weekend.
The 40-year-old Biado appeared headed to an impressive win after taking a 7-5 lead only to falter in the crunch – no thanks to two crucial slips on ball No. 2 in the the14th and 15th racks that could have sealed their race-to-8 matchup.
Strangely, made those mistakes right on the same pocket where he tried to sink the ball.
Prior to his exit, Biado emerged triumphant in his last three contests after being relegated to the losers bracket as he yielded to Bulgaria’s Georgi Georgiev, 10–6, on the opening day.
The former world 10-ball titlist outshone crowd favorite Jimmy Devlin (8-0), Austrian Max Lechner (8-5), and German Moritz Neuhausen (8-4).
Hoàng actually took the early initiative by rushing to a 4-1 advantage but it wasn’t enough to discompose Biado who created some brilliant counters until they saw themselves at 5-all.
The Nueva Ecija native then followed his fightback with another two straight racks for a 7-5 cushion.
Still the Vietnamese lived up to his nickname and left Biado downhearted.
Hoàng eventually beat Spain’s Francisco Sanchez Ruiz (10-6) and Albania’s Eklent Kaci (10-5) to set up a semis meeting with Chinese Taipei’s Ko Pin-Yi.
Despite the loss, his European trip will not end there as Biado and fellow PH cue master Michael Feliciano will vie in the UK Open Pool Championship in Telford, England this week.
