by Marlon Bernardino
FILIPINO cue masters Carlo "The Black Tiger" Biado and Antonio "Gaga" Gabica hurdle their respective rivals to advance in the semi-final round of the 2013 World 9-Ball Championship on Thursday at the Al Arabi Sports Club in Doha, Qatar.
The Rosario, La Union native Biado, playing under the banner of Bugsy International Promotions, defeated Chris Melling of Great Britain, 11-3, in the quarter-finals while the Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu ace Gabica, who has lived and worked in Qatar for the last four years, working as an assistant coach for the Qatari national pool team, edged Nick Van den Berg of the Netherlands, 11-10.
"Malaking factor 'yung suporta na ipinakikita nina Sir Perry at Mam Verna Mariano ng Bugsy International Promotions saka mga mga kababayan ko, sila ang naging ispirasyon ko at s'yempre ang pamilya ko na laging sumusuporta sa akin," said the 29-year-old Biado, former caddie-turned-billiard player.
"Hope pumabor 'yung bola sa atin bukas (ngayon), said Biado, a former National Open champion and semi-finalists in the 2011 World Ten Ball Championship.
On the way to the final four Biado toppled Shane Van Boening of the United States, 11-10, in the Round of 32 and Fabio Petroni of Italy, 11-10, in the Round of 16.
"Gagawin ko ang best ko na manalo muli tayo," commented the 41-year-old Gabica, who is best to remember winning the Gold Medal in the 2006 Doha Asian Games.
Gabica, on the other hand needed to beat Oliver Ortmann of Germany, 11-8, and Ko Pin Yi of Chinese-Taipei, 11-9, respectively.
The semi-final on Friday will feature the Philippines versus Europe this after Thorsten Hohmann of Germany and Karl Boyes of Great Britain walloped their respective assignments.
Hohmann outclassed Darren Appleton of Great Britain, 11-5, in the Round of 32, Dennis Orcollo of the Philippines, 11-8, in the Round of 16 and Jeffrey de Luna of the Philippines, 11-7, in the Round of 8.
Boyes, meantime routed last year's World 9-Ball Champion Darren Appleton of Great Britain, 11-5, Lo Li Wen of Chinese-Taipei, 11-10 and Nick Ekonomopoulos of Greece, 11-8, in order.
In one semi-final, Gabica will face off against Boyes. In the other semi-final, Biado will do battle with Hohmann. Both semi-final matches will be played simultaneously at the Al Arabi Sports Indoor Stadium beginning at 1:30pm Doha time(GMT +3.) on Friday. The race to 13, alternate break final will begin at 5pm according to World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) officer Ted Lerner.
In other Filipino pool sharks results, Marlon "Marvelous Captain" Manalo was yielded to Petroni, 7-11, Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego bowed to Melling, 7-11, and Israel "Amay" Rota was lost to Lo Li Wen of Chinese-Taipei, 2-11, in the Round of 32, while Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza was beaten by Ekonomopoulos, 9-11, in the Round of 16.
The winner of the 2013 World 9-ball Championship receives $36,000. The runner up will pocket $18,000. The total prize fund is $250,000.
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