It’s showtime!

Barely a year since Carlos Yulo dazzled the world with two Olympic gold medals, another Yulo is making waves, moving a heartbeat away from becoming a world champion.

Karl Eldrew Yulo put on a spectacular display of skills, grace, poise and artistry to qualify in the finals of four events in the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships late Thursday at the packed Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City.

Long living in the giant shadows of his fancied brother, the 17-year-old prodigy scored 78.332 in the boys’ individual all-around to gain a shot at his first-ever gold medal on the world stage on Sunday. He finished 15th behind Russian Arsenil Dukhno (82.065), Chinese Yang Lanbin (80.698) and Japanese Nao Ojima (80.631).

Still, it doesn’t matter as the rising star from Adamson High School asserted that the real battle would be in the finale, where he is determined to finally emerge as world champion.

“My wish was granted, but the job is still not yet finished. I will do better and give more than 100 percent in the final if ever I make it,” said Eldrew, who grew up poor in Leveriza Street in Malate, Manila before picking up the sport that brought so much success to his elder brother.

“I cannot predict the future, so I’ll just lie low. I have to prove to them that this is the Philippines. I have to prove something for the people who support me because they put so much money here and so much support. I will do my very best to win.”

But the individual all-around event is just one of his chances to capture a gold medal at home.

Yulo also finished second in the floor exercise with 14.233 points behind Dukhno, fifth in vault with 13.750 points and sixth in the horizontal bar with 13.700 points to gain a total of four chances to emerge as world champion.

Although he finished 27th in still rings, 28th in parallel bars, and 58th in pommel horse, he still has enough cushion to make it to the final of the individual all-around, joining Jovi Loh of Singapore as the only Southeast Asian in the star-studded field.

Eldrew vows to come up with yet another dazzling performance in his first and last appearance in the junior world tourney that will definitely delight not only the Filipino fans, but his friends and family as well.

“I am just happy because back then, we would support Kuya in the 2019 SEA (Southeast Asian) Games. Now it’s my turn,” Eldrew said.

“I’m thankful for them cheering me on. This is going to be my first and last Junior Worlds and so I’m just going to enjoy this competition. I will do my best instead of pressuring myself.”

Meanwhile, grassroots athletes King CJay Pernia and Hillarion Palles III joined Yulo in the world tilt, placing 106th and 113th, respectively, in the all-around rankings.

Still ongoing at press time is the girls’ all-around with 15-year-old Elisabeth Antone, Sabina Tayag, Maxine Bondoc and Jellia Bantilan bannering the Philippines.