Drained the nine-ball. Jumped in pure joy. Air punched. Went up the pool table and celebrated once more.
Carlo Biado has won the 2021 US Open Pool Championship, the Philippines’ first in 27 years, or when the legendary Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes did so back in 1994.
This as he came from 3-8 down and nailed 10 straight racks to clinch the crown, 13-8, Sunday.
And winning during the COVID-19 pandemic that has taken so much from the world, this one is very special for Biado.
“Sobrang saya kaya ako napaluha at dahil sa piangdadaanan nating pandemya hindi ko ineexpect na ganito ‘yung kalalabasan ng pagkapanalo ko,” said Biado during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association forum powered by Smart and Upstream Media as its official webcast partner.
The 37-year-old cue artist is no stranger to bagging international titles, once topping both the 2017 World Games and the 2017 WPA World Nine-ball Championship.
But there is nothing much sweeter than the US Open.
“Itong US Open na ito pangarap ko talagang makuha ito,” said Biado in the session presented by San Miguel Corporation (SMC), MILO, Amelie Hotel, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
“Nanalo ako sa World Games saka sa World Pool Championship nanalo ako pero ito ‘yung gustong gusto ko mapanalunan dahil ito ‘yung pinaka prestigious event,” the golf caddie-turned-billiard great added.
And a great moment deserved an epic celebration.
That’s why Biado went up the table, the first time he ever did that.
“First time ko ginawa ‘yon dahil sa sobrang tuwa. Sobrang saya dahil ito ‘yung pangarap ko, ito ‘yung pinapangarap ng professional player na magagaling sa buong mundo,” he expressed.
“Iba ang tingin sa iyo kapag itong US Open ang nakuha mo kaya masayang masaya ako na nanalo tayo.”
Now, Biado sets his sights on three tournaments slatted next year — the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, the Southeast Asian Games, and the World Championships.
“Sana kami ulit yung ipadala sa SEA Games para makabawi kami,” said Biado, whose partnership with Chua lost to the Singaporean duo of Toh Lian Han and Yapp in the semifinals.
Biado, a self-confessed admirer of the legendary Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes, arrives in the country on Sept. 30 and will observe the mandatory 10-day quarantine, a schedule which he said forced him to just skip the US Open International set Oct. 13-18.
The pool champion from La Union said he’ll spend the rest of the year having a break and spent time with his family given the hectic schedule awaiting him in 2022.
“Pahinga muna kasi siyempre kailangan din nating mga-rest, kasi minsan kapag tuluy-tuloy ang paglalaro mo ng bilyar, nakaka-off din, e,” said Biado. “Kailangan din ma-refresh yung katawan mo, kailangan mo ring mag-relax.”
Biado will set to leave for overseas by January.
