GENERAL SANTOS CITY - Ko Pin-Yi of Chinese-Taipei weathered Carlo Biado's mighty comeback as he reserved enough strength to muster an 11-9 victory to crown himself the 2015 World 10-Ball champion Saturday at the SM City Mall here.
The 26-year-old Ko built a 9-2 lead, exploited every miscue by the Filipino ace early on, only to find Biado clawing back to close the gap at 9-8.
"I was very nervous. I had to keep my composure if I had to win the title," said Ko, who took the prestigious MP Cup and the $40,000 top prize bankrolled by Sarangani Representative, boxing champion, and billiards player Manny Pacquiao.
Ko made it 10-8 on a run out, but Biado kept on punching back, winning the next game after the Taiwanese missed on an easy shot on the "6" ball. With Biado breathing down his neck, Ko unleashed all his might on the break and sank three balls.
A former world junior champion, Ko let out a loud yell after he sank the final 10-ball on a run out to the dismay of a highly-partisan crowd that anticipated a monumental comeback by the Filipino.
Ko beat his younger brother Ko Ping-Chung, 11-2, in the semifinals to advance, good for a post-Chinese New Year celebration.
It was a different Biado who showed up in the finals. The 31-year-old Filipino punished every little mistake David Alcaide committed in the semifinals and won easily, 11-2.
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