Centeno regains world 10-ball crown

Posted by ReyFort Media

UNDERSCORING the changing of the guard in Philippine women’s pool, Chezka Centeno held off veteran Rubilen Amit 3-2 (4-1, 2-4, 3-4, 4-2) in riveting fashion late Sunday night to recapture the WPA Predator World Women’s 10-ball Championship in Bali, Indonesia.

In an all-Filipino finale featuring the country’s two top female cue aces, Centeno, 26, played more steadily than the usually more composed Amit, 44, who committed critical lapses that foiled her bid to complete a hat trick of titles she earlier won in 2009 and 2013 back in the Philippines.

Poised to extend the title match to a shootout after prevailing in the tense third set 4-3, coming back from a 0-2 deficit, Amit scratched the cue ball on the break in the sixth frame of the fourth and final set, paving the way for her younger rival to return to the table and seal the deal.

When she finally pocketed the 10-ball in the right corner pocket, Centeno, usually soft-spoken, roared in triumph, bagging her second world 10-ball crown after four hours and 23 minutes of nail-biting action at the Nusantara Ballroom of the Bali International Convention Center.

She duplicated her countrywoman’s feat after ruling the competition in the 2023 edition in Klagenfurt, Austria.

It seemed only fitting that they were the last two women standing in the 64-player field, with Centeno reaching the finals first after vanquishing three-time world 9-ball queen Liu Shasha of China 3-0 (4-3, 4-3, 4-3) in the semifinals earlier Sunday.

Fondly called “Bingkay,” Amit took longer polishing off former European women’s 9-ball champion queen Margarita Fefilova of Belarus 3-1 (4-1, 4-0, 2-4, 4-0) in the other semis to arrange the showdown with the well-rested Centeno.  

“I’m feeling great, I am very happy. I feel very nervous and the ball was very difficult. Rubilen, she’s a great player. I am just lucky,” said the Zamboanga City pride, who first made headlines at the age of 14 after beating former national player Irish Ranola in the women’s 9-ball event finals of the 2011 Philippine National Games in Bacolod.

Aside from the championship trophy, Centeno pocketed the top prize of $50,000 (about P2.916 million) while Amit took home the runner-up purse of $30,000 (1.749 million). (B. pedralvez/Malaya)