By MARK REY MONTEJO
Carlo Biado aims to extend his supremacy on Indonesian soil when he leads the Philippine campaign in the 2026 Carabao International 9-Ball Open at the NICE PIK 2 (Nusantara International Convention Exhibition) in Jakarta slated Feb. 4 to 8.
Fresh off a title victory at the Asian Men’s 10-Ball Championship in the same city, the 42-year-old Biado tries to use it as an added motivation in the five-day meet that lured 128 players.
The Carabao Open would be the first World Nineball Tour (WNT) gold-level event to be held in Indonesia, meaning WNT ranking points are at stake in the evebnt.
The event has a prize fund of $100,000 with the champion getting $20,000 (around P1.1 million).
Other top Filipino players in the event are Johann Chua, Jeff De Luna, AJ Manas, James Aranas, Jefrey Roda, Michael Baoanan, Bernie Regalario, Jonas Magpantay, Michael Feliciano, Antonio Lining, and Anton Raga, to name a few.
Biado won the Asian Men’s 10-Ball by beating Hong Kong-born Filipino Robbie Capito. Also fancied in the event are Biado’s Reyes Cup teammates in Singaporean Aloysius Yapp and Vietnamese Dương Quốc Hoàng.
Despite a lackluster performance early, the four-time world champion began demolished Capito in the 10-Ball finale, 11-7, to hoist his first international trophy of the season worth $12,000 (around P700,000).
