Amit pays tribute to grieving Rañola

NAYPYITAW—The highly anticipated finale between Filipino cue aces Rubilen Amit and Iris Rañola didn’t happen.

But Amit, who captured the women’s 10-ball title over an Indonesian foe Friday night, says Rañola’s presence alone in the competition was worth more than any gold in the 27th Southeast Asian Games.

“She (Rañola) didn’t have to stay. She didn’t have to prove herself,” said Amit. “Just to be here and compete for the country is worth more than winning a gold.”

Rañola, the 2011 8-ball and 9-ball champion, finished all of her matches instead of going home after her father died due to a lingering illness in Zamboanga City on the day she arrived in this traffic-free capital city over a week ago.

There were no expectations for Rañola to deliver but still, she came up with a bronze in the 10-ball event.

“I was really hoping for a silver-gold performance but I couldn’t be disappointed. She showed that this is not about herself but for the country,” said Amit after getting back at Angeline Magdalena, her tormentor in the 9-ball finals earlier, with a 7-2 victory.

The Filipinos finished the tournament at the Wunna Theikdi Stadium here with two gold, two silver and three bronze medals, a gold less than their 2011 Indonesia output (3-2-4).