Biado faces US No. 1 in World 9-ball semis

Lone Filipino bet standing Carlo Biado has moved closer to retaining the crown after advancing to the semifinals on Wednesday of the 2018 WPA World 9-Ball Championship in Doha, Qatar.

After a one-day respite Tuesday, the 35-year-old La Union native returned rejuvenated in toppling former world champion Wu Jiaqing of China, 11-9, in the Round of 16 and Wu Kun Lin of Chinese Taipei, 11-4.

The twin wins set up Biado for a semifinal meeting with the United States’ No. 1 pool player Shan Van Boening, who dispatched Great Britain’s Chris Melling, 11-5, and Chinese Taipei’s Chang Jun Lin, 11-8.

Biado held his composure against Jiaqing until the Chinese scratched while down by 9-8. The Filipino pounced on the break to win two of the next three racks.

Against Kun Lin, Biado cruised to a 6-0 lead and never looked back.

Biado seeks to become the first player since Earl Strickland 27 years ago to win back-to-back titles.

Alab is coming off two victories over CLS Knights Indonesia, including an 88-80 overtime victory in Surabaya last Sunday with Ray Parks Jr. hitting a key basket in the extension.

Parks is expected to be on the spotlight after being drafted second overall by Blackwater in the PBA Rookie Draft.

But much of the focus has been on Parks’ still-uncertain future after rumors surfaced that the reigning two-time Local Most Valuable Player’s rights will be dealt to Meralco in a three-way trade that also involves TNT KaTropa.

Alab team owner and Parks’ agent Charlie Dy was quick to deny the reported trade proposal.