All four semi-final places belonged to Filipino players after the fourth day of the 2026 Philippine Open on October 23. Bernie Regalario, Johann Chua, Anton Raga and Baseth Mocaibat advanced at Gateway Mall, ensuring a home champion. In the closest quarter-final, Mocaibat recovered from 7–1 down to defeat Shane Van Boening 10–9.
Regalario beats two champions as Chua eliminates Biado
The World Nineball Tour (WNT) reported that Regalario first beat defending champion David Alcaide 10–2 in the last 16, then defeated US Open champion Francisco Sánchez Ruiz 10–1. He conceded only three racks across the two matches to reach his second WNT semi-final.
Regalario said his opponents' titles had not distracted him: he focused on the matches and gave his best. He also acknowledged that the home crowd brought pressure as well as strength. His explanation for two emphatic victories centered on his focus that day and the support in the venue.
Chua's route also included a 10–1 win. He first defeated Aleksa Pecelj 10–7, then eliminated world champion Carlo Biado by that wide margin. Chua said he was excited to reach the final day in front of his home crowd and expressed particular respect for Biado.
Raga advances twice as Mocaibat turns 7–1 into victory
Raga beat Jefrey Roda 10–7 before defeating Jayson Shaw 10–4. In his interview, he connected his good form that day to his break and noted that he had produced several run-outs. The break starts each rack, while a run-out means taking an opportunity to clear the remaining balls. Those specific performances formed Raga's assessment of his play.
Mocaibat first eliminated Aloysius Yapp 10–3 in the last 16, then fell 7–1 behind Van Boening. In the race-to-ten quarter-final, his opponent needed three more racks and he needed nine. He ultimately won 10–9, taking the racks 9–2 from that point and turning a position close to elimination into qualification.
The win put Mocaibat into a WNT Major semi-final for the first time. He said beating Van Boening in that manner was unbelievable, with joining three other Filipinos in the last four making it even more special.
October 23 quarter-final results
| Winner | Loser | Score (winner first) |
|---|---|---|
| Bernie Regalario | Francisco Sánchez Ruiz | 10-1 |
| Johann Chua | Carlo Biado | 10-1 |
| Anton Raga | Jayson Shaw | 10-4 |
| Baseth Mocaibat | Shane Van Boening | 10-9 |
Semi-final matchups confirmed on day four
The two semi-finals set on October 23 were Mocaibat against Raga and Regalario against Chua. With defending champion Alcaide, world champion Biado and several other leading players eliminated, the four home players made this edition's title contest an all-Filipino affair.
