27 years after Efren “Bata” Reyes won the US Open Pool Championship, another Filipino has taken the prestigious billiards competition by storm.
2021 is proving to be THE year for Filipino sports.
After a 27-year drought, Filipino billiards master Carlo Biado won a stunning 13-8 victory over Aloysius Yapp of Singapore in the final of the 2021 US Open Pool Championship in Atlantic City, New Jersey Sunday (September 19).
The 37-year-old came from behind and won the last 10 racks to become the first Filipino to win the US Open since his boyhood idol Efren “Bata” Reyes won it in 1994.
"I'm very happy because this event is one of my dreams," the 37-year-old said as he fought back tears.
"I dedicate this to my family, also to my baby. Thanks to all of you. Even in the time of pandemic, you're still here watching around the world."
After he took an early 3-1 lead, Yapp stormed back to win the next seven racks and take a commanding five-rack lead.
But the match turned in the 12th rack when the Singaporean missed a delicate cut on the 9 ball, allowing Biado to steal the rack and kickstart his comeback.
Yapp wouldn't win another rack as Biado swept the last 10 racks to bring home the trophy and the top prize of $50,000.
After sinking the final 9 ball in the 21st rack, the Filipino let out a yell, pumped his fist three times, and got up on the table to celebrate.
"I am lost for words," Yapp, who took home $25,000, said.
"I feel grateful to be in the final and all the fans have been awesome so thank you. I know I can do it. I am coming back stronger next year."
The year 2021 is proving to be one of the most successful years in the country's sports history.
Last August, the country finally won a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics,after almost a century of trying courtesy of Hidilyn Diaz in weightlifting.
Diaz and three other athletes eventually brought home silver and bronze to cap a successful Olympic campaign yet.
Just recently, Fil-Canadian Leylah Fernandez came just one win shy of bagging the US Open women's tennis title.
Tags: #sports, #billiards, #USOpenPoolChampionship, #CarloBiado