Biado, Orcollo tow 3 other Pinoys into last 32

Former golf caddy Carlo Biado and fancied Dennis Orcollo posted contrasting victories Wednesday to tow three other Filipinos into the final 32 of the 2015 World 9-ball Championship at Al Arabi Sports Club in Doha, Qatar.

The 31-year-old Biado, who shifted to billiards full-time in 2004, trounced veteran compatriot Lee Vann Corteza, 11-5, while Orcollo lived up to hype with an 11-1 crushing of Mishel Turkey, the last Qatari in the fold.

Biado, currently ranked No. 4 by the World Pool-Billiard Association, next tangles with the dangerous Ko Pin-yi of Chinese Taipei Thursday night.

Other Filipinos who stayed in contention for the $30,000 champion’s purse were the veteran Warren Kiamco and rising stars Jeffrey Ignacio and Oliver Medenilla.

Kiamco, rated No. 5 by the WPBA, subdued Raymund Faraon, 11-7; Ignacio whipped Canada’s Jason Klatt, 11-5; while Medenilla, an overseas Filipino worker,  tamed Poland’s Karol Skowerski, 11-4.

Qatar-based Antonio Gabica and Johann Chua headed to the exits following defeats to Russian Ruslan Chinakov, 5-11, and Japanese Yukio Akagariyama, 11-5, respectively.

The multititled Orcollo is hoping to duplicate the feat of Francisco “Django” Bustamante, the last Filipino to rule the prestigious $200,000 tournament in 2010. Roy Luarca