Biado, 3 others gain Round-of-16

MANILA, Philippines - World No. 2 Carlo Biado and qualifiers Johann Chua, Raymund Faraon and Elmer Haya held fort for the Philippines as they dumped their respective foes to barge into the Round of 16 of the 23rd WPA world 9-ball championship yesterday at Al Saad Sports Club in Doha, Qatar.

Biado, a semifinalist last year out to go all the way this time, dominated Canadian Jason Klatt, 11-5, for a spot in the Last 16 against Taiwanese Ko Pin Yi. Ko edged Japanese Oi Naoyuki, 11-10.

Chua, a last minute qualifier, continued to flash top form as he crushed Russian Constantin Stepanov, 11-5, to advance in the $200,000 tourney. Chua was to gun for a quarterfinal berth last night against Qatari Waleed Majid, an 11-9 winner over British Darren Appleton.

Faraon and Haya also kept their respective runs going as they booked Last 16 berths by disposing of Chinese Wang Can, 11-7, and Japanese Hijikata Hayato, 11-8, respectively.

However, only one of them can reach the quarters as the two Pinoys were paired in the Final 16.

Antonio Gabica, the runner-up last year, and Ramil Gallego were playing their Last 32 assignments at presstime.

Earlier, Biado, Gabica and Gallego survived the rash of upsets that befell the fancied Filipino players. Biado bundled out Polish Mieszlo Fortunski, 11-6; Gabica thumped Iranian Medhi Rasekhi, 11-7, while Gallego, a veteran now based in Japan, squeaked past Hall of Famer German Ralf Souquet, 11-10.

Their victories came after former world champion Dennis Orcollo bowed to Japanese Oi Naoyuki, 11-8, in a match the latter controlled from the start.

Jeff de Luna also bowed out with a 6-11 setback to Canadian Jason Klatt.

Also booted out were veterans Lee Van Corteza, who lost to local bet Waleed Majed, 6-11,  and Warren Kiamco, who dropped a 9-11 decision to Chinese Wang Can, 9-11.

Austrian Mario He also eliminated ex world titlist Alex Pagulayan, now representing Canada, 11-9.

In other reversals, German holder Thorstenn Hohmann fell to an ambush from unheralded Dutch Marc Teutscher, 9-11, as did highly-touted Finnish ace Mika Immonen, who yielded to Czech Roman Hybler, 7-11.

After Wednesday’s results, the Philippines was left with six bets in the running for the top plum of the $200,000 event.

Little-known Johann Chua, Raymund Faraon and Elmer Haya – all qualifiers – earlier advanced to the Last-32.

Chua nipped Italian Daniele Corrieri, 11-6, while Faraon turned back Taiwanese Liu Cheng Chieh, 11-5, and Haya beat compatriot Francisco Felicilda, 11-4, in the Last-64.