Filipino cue artist Carlo Biado is a champion—again.
The Filipino cue superstar extended his sensational season, ruling the 2026 Predator PBC Indonesia International Open in Jakarta
Biado looked headed for defeat after Gallito took a 9-8 lead in their nip-and-tuck battle. However, Gallito scratched on the 8-ball in what could’ve been his winning rack, leaving the door open for Biado. The two-time world nine-ball king took full advantage, tying things up at 9 before completing the comeback in the decider.
From Slow Start to Strong Finish
Gallito held the upper hand in the early stages. In the sixth rack, both players traded brilliant defensive shots, but Pao Pao broke the deadlock with a beautiful bank shot on the 4-ball. He then finished the rack to take a solid 4-2 lead. Biado, however, didn’t stay down for long, stringing together three consecutive racks to level the score at 5-5.
Gallito responded by winning three straight racks of his own to build a commanding 8-5 advantage. But the veteran Biado refused to back down, taking the next three racks to tie the match once again at 8-8. Unfazed, Pao Pao raised his game even further, running the table with excellent precision and successfully clearing the 17th rack to reach the hill first at 9-8.
Gallito was also in full control in the 18th rack and looked set to finish the match with only four balls remaining on the table. He successfully pocketed the 6-ball with a cut shot—narrowly avoiding a scratch—and followed it up with a nice shot on the 7-ball. After hitting the 8-ball, however, the cue ball unfortunately rolled into a pocket. This critical scratch not only allowed Biado to steal the rack but also the match, securing him a dramatic 10-9 come-from-behind win.
With the victory, the Philippines sustained its excellence at the Indonesia International Open, sweeping all three editions of the tournament following previous triumphs by Jeffrey Ignacio in 2024 and Sean Mark Malayan in 2025. Overall, it was a dominant performance from the Philippine contingent, with 12 Pinoy cueists occupying the Round of 16 and securing six of the eight quarterfinal spots.
A Special Championship Clincher for Carlo Biado
While the comeback victory was sweet, it carried even greater meaning for the Black Tiger, who shared his golden conquest with his wife and daughter—both of whom flew to Indonesia to surprise him.
“A very special thank you to my wife and our daughter for surprising me by coming all the way to Indonesia,” Carlo Biado wrote on social media. “Having you both by my side gave me the extra inspiration and strength to keep fighting until the very end.”
He also congratulated Gallito for “an amazing tournament” and for “making every Filipino proud”—before encouraging him to keep working.
“To my opponent, Paolo Gallito, congratulations on an amazing tournament. Thank you for making every Filipino proud,” Biado said. “Your time will come—keep believing and keep working. Makukuha mo rin ’yan.”
Filipino Dominance in Indonesia
Biado’s win in Indonesia capped a dominant tournament for the Philippines. Aside from Biado and Gallito reaching the final, four other Filipinos advanced to the quarterfinals. In all, six of the eight quarterfinalists in the 2026 Indonesia International Open were Pinoys, including Bernie Regalario, whom Biado defeated in the semis, 10-6.
Carlo Biado will now turn his attention to the 2026 Asian Pool Championship, where he is the defending champion. He will be joined by compatriots Jonas Magpantay, who recently won the Universal Open Pool Championship, and AJ Manas, among others.
