Centeno ousts Amit, seals PNG title tiff with Rañola

UNHERALDED Cheska Centeno showed her upset win over Rubilen Amit in the eliminations was no fluke, duplicating the feat in the semifinals yesterday to arrange a gold medal showdown with veteran Iris Rañola in  women’s 9-ball of  billiards of the  POC-PSC Philippine National Games at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex billiards hall.

Centeno, a 13-year-old from Zamboanga City repulsed Amit, 7-3, in the semifinals after nipping the 2009 Women’s World 10-Ball champion, 7-6, in the first round on Sunday.

Amit, focused on her preparation for the coming Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar, raced to a 3-2 lead before Centeno racked up five straight game, including a golden break in the eighth.

Centeno will again be  the underdog opposite Rañola, a double gold medalist in the 2011 SEA Games with an unbeaten slate in the ongoing tournament, when they face in the race-to-nine finals.

Rañola dumped Centeno, who began picking up a cue stick at the age of 5, with a 7-2 win in their initial duel the other day.

In taekwondo, national pool members Christian Al dela Cruz, Mary Anjelay Pelaez and Reign Charm Ragutana ruled their respective weight categories.

Dela Cruz won the men’s welterweight title, Pelaez  the women’s finweight gold and Ragutana  the women’s welter gold.