MANILA, Philippines — Cheska Centeno, only 15, feels like on top of the world billiards scene.
The precocious lass from Zamboanga City pulled off a 9-8 upset win over Rubilen Amit in women’s 10-ball of the PSC-POC Philippine National Games.
Centeno cleared the table for the golden victory after Amit, the reigning world 10-ball titlist, bungled the ninth marble in the right corner pocket during the 17th frame of the finale held at Game Ball inside the Philippine Center for Sports Medicine.
Centeno’s father, Albert, said they were about to go home after a bronze-medal finish in the 9-ball event but his daughter persisted in a determined bid to get back at the favorites.
Amit took the gold medal in the 9-ball and 2011 Southeast Asian Games double-gold medalist Irish Rañola settled for silver.
“I just told her to take care of the ball and not think about her opponents,” said Albert, who owns a farm and four billiard halls in Zamboanga City where Centeno honed her skills at a young age.
With nerves of steel, Centeno swept her way to the finals where she met Amit with a twice-to-beat advantage. Amit won the first match, 9-7, to force the winner-take-all.
At Rizal Memorial tennis center, Patrick John Tierro and Maryann Jade Capadocia ruled the lawn tennis singles.
Tierro defeated Alberto Lim, 6-4, 6-3, for the men’s title while Capadocia frustrated Khim Iglupas, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, in the distaff side.
Tierro bagged a second gold in men’s doubles after pairing with Mark Reyes in a 6-3, 6-4 win over Johnny Arcilla and Ralph Barte.
Over at Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Philippine Air Force captured the twin volleyball titles with a 25-19, 26-28, 25-20, 25-11 win over National U in the men’s side and a come-from-behind 25-22, 26-28, 20-25, 26-24, 15-7 victory over La Salle in the women’s division.
In shooting, Emerito Concepcion fired 584 points to nip Edwin Fernandez for the men’s 50m rifle prone title.