Unfancied bets reach KO stage

MANILA, Philippines - Unheralded bets Carlo Biado and Demosthenes Pulpul brought down fancied rivals at the close of the group stage yesterday, joining the march of the big guns to the knockout proper of the World 10-Ball Championships at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Biado, 27, pulled the rug from under current world No. 1 Antonio Lining, 9-6, while Pulpul, 26, stunned reigning Beijing Open champion Chang Jung Lin, 9-5, to book seats in the 64-man money round which starts today.

“I felt little pressure because I knew there would be one Filipino advancing to the next round,” said Biado. “It helped that he (Lining) had so many dry breaks and missed some shots.

The day also belonged to Pulpul who earlier downed Portuguese Manuel Pereira, 9-4, then bowed to countryman Venancio Tanio, 5-9, before claiming a big win over the heavily favored Chang.

“I just got lucky,” said Pulpul, who first created a stir in making the semifinals of the same event in 2008.

Former Asian Games gold medalist Antonio Gabica, Jonas Magpantay and Jerico Banares also advanced to the knockout stage.

Gabica overcame Chinese Li Hewen, 9-7, Banares nipped countryman Joven Alba, 9-8, and Magpantay nipped Spanish Carlos Cabello, 9-7.

Marvin Tapia walloped countryman Ruben Cuna, 9-1, to join the Phl group making the money round as early as Wednesday.

“I’ve been working in Qatar for almost two years now that’s why I needed to play through the qualifiers to make it this far,” said Gabica. “I’m happy I’ve returned playing in our country but I’m not thinking of anything big. I really just want to play.”

Banares, the 2008 National Juniors Championship winner, and Magpantay said they’re also to survive the group stage.

“My goal is to make the main group and I’ve accomplished that in the last three stagings of this tournament,” said the 21-year-old Banares, a Tanauan, Batangas native who pocketed $4,500 when he made the round-of-16 three years back.

“This would be my biggest paycheck to date,” said the 17-year-old Magpantay, assured of at least $1,000 for making the cut.

Mario Tolentino wasn’t as fortunate as he ran into the power-hitting American Johnny Archer, who came out of a 2-2 deadlock to run away with a 9-2 win.

Daryl Peach of Great Britain joined the star-studded cast by smashing Vietnamese Nguyen Phuc Long, 9-4.