Carlo Biado got back at fellow Filipino Johann Chua to pull off a 9-3 win Saturday, May 21 and capture the gold in the men’s 10-ball singles of the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Biado took control upon the opening break, taking the first two racks before extending the gap to 4-1 after Chua missed the final ball on the fifth frame to the astonishment of the crowd inside the Ha Dong Gymnasium.
It was the start Biado needed to avenge his 9-6 defeat to Chua in the men’s 9-ball final last Wednesday.
The former world champion and last year’s US Open winner claimed his third gold in the regional meet, including his triumphs in the men’s 9-ball doubles back in 2015 and men’s 9-ball singles in 2017.
He joins Chua and Rubilen Amit as the Filipino cue artists who produced golds during this year’s event.
The Philippines will leave Vietnam with four golds — two of which from Amit in the women’s 9-ball and 10-ball singles — alongside four silvers and two bronzes.
Chua, Biado, Chezka Centeno (women’s 10-ball) and Jefrey Roda (men’s snooker 6-red singles) accounted for the four silver while the great Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco dela Cruz settled for bronze in both the men’s 1-carom.
Biado shook off the effects of his defeat to Chua in 9-ball by beating Vietnam’s Kien Do The, 9-4, in the quarters and Singapore’s Sayed Sharik, 9-3, in the semis.
Despite falling short of completing a double-gold feat, Chua was able to pull off the best SEA Games performance of his young career.
Chua came into the Vietnam Games with only two SEAG bronze medals.