Another tough day saw Team Pilipinas struggle in the World Games.
Carlo Biado ceded his throne after faltering in his comeback attempt in the semifinals of the men’s pool event of the Billiards Sports tournament, Sunday morning (Philippine time) at the Sheraton Ballroom Hotel in Birmingham, Alabama in the United States.
After trailing 4-5 against Germany’s Joshua Filler, the 2021 US Open champion took the lead after bagging two consecutive racks to 6-5.
The German upstart, though, strung five straight frames to go to the hill, and quite comfortably, at 10-6. Biado rallied back and cut the deficit to two, 8-10, but the lead was too big as Filler eventually closed the match and unseat the Filipino.
Biado had one last chance of making the podium, but Singapore’s Aloysius Yapp — who came on as runner-up to him in the US Open — got the better of him this time in the bronze medal match. Yapp broke off a 6-all deadlock to take the win and the bronze at 11-8.
Over at the Railroad Park, Fer Casares and Kim Mangrobang also had a rough finish to the day.
Casares ended the day for the Philippines with a 14th place finish in the men’s individual duathlon after a huge surge in the bike leg and the second run leg.
The Filipino-Spaniard standout was among the chase pack after the first run leg at 19th place, but he was one of the quickest in the ending run leg which almost took him to a top 10 finish.
Mangrobang, on the other hand, was hit the toughest during the day as she was one of 12 racers that were disqualified for an infraction in the women’s individual race.
Mangrobang and Caseres will look to close out Team Pilipinas’ run on a better note when they compete in the mixed team relay event on July 18 at 2 a.m. (Philippine time).
