MANILA – The Philippine Sportswriters Association has named two-time World Pool Championship winner Carlo Biado as top achiever for July.
He defeated American Fedor Gorst, 15-13, in the final of the event held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last July 27, eight years after topping the most prestigious 9-ball tournament.
Biado, known as "The Black Tiger", became the first Filipino to win the 9-ball crown twice, moving ahead of legends Efren “Bata” Reyes (1999), Ronnie Alcano (2006), and Francisco ‘Django’ Bustamante (2010).
The other PSA monthly achievers were boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, Strong Group Athletics, the Philippine women’s football team Filipinas, and the Philippine rugby squad Volcanoes.
The 46-year-old Pacquiao returned to the ring after four years and challenged WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in Las Vegas. The fight ended in a draw, allowing the American to regain the belt.
The Strong Group Athletics (SGA) basketball team coached by Charles Tiu retained the William Jones Cup title in Taiwan via a sweep, duplicating its 2024 shutout.
The Philippines also made history as the tournament's first back-to-back champion in 44 years.
The Filipinas triumphed over Saudi Arabia (3-0), host Cambodia (6-0) and Hong Kong (1-0) in Group G of the AFC Asian Women’s Cup Qualifiers in Cambodia. They advanced to the Continental meet offering slots for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Volcanoes, back from a six-year hiatus, claimed the 15-a-side rugby title at the 2025 Unions Cup in Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei. The Philippined dethroned Singapore (37-20) and Thailand (23-6).
Young athletes also performed well abroad, securing two gold medals, seven silvers and seven bronzes at the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan and grabbing two golds, five silvers and 13 bronzes at the Asian Junior Taekwondo Championships in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. (PNA)