THE Philippines’ Carlo Biado and AJ Manas wilted under tremendous pressure late while Spain’s Francisco Sanchez Ruiz and David Alcaide showed incredible poise in pulling off a 4-1, 0-4, 3-4, 4-1, 4-2 victory on Monday to rule the WPA Men’s Doubles 10-Ball World Championship at the Heritage Garden of the Bali International Convention Centre in Indonesia.
Tied two sets apiece and 2-2 with just three balls left in the fifth and deciding set, the Filipinos appeared headed to taking the rack and moving one frame from giving the Philippines another world title but Mr. Manas, a 19-year-old making his finals debut on the world stage, scratched the cue ball after sinking the 8-ball.
That proved to be costly as the Spaniards took the frame and then had a break-and-run in the next to claim the crown and the top purse worth $60,000.
The Filipinos settled for $37,000.
It was an unlucky break for the Filipinos especially Mr. Biado, who was hoping to collect another world crown to his vast collection of world titles that included two in 9-ball titles and one in 10-ball, mixed team and US Open each.
It also would have been Mr. Manas’ first world conquest.
It was just not meant to be.
It wasn’t a bad performance though for Mr. Manas, who showed that he could be at par with the best in the planet and possibly a worthy successor to the crown as the current king of Philippine pool in Mr. Biado.
His time would surely come.
But on this fateful day on this popular Indonesian island province, it hasn’t yet. — Joey Villar
