SINGAPORE—Shy and reticent, Chezka Centeno is the epitome of a new generation of Filipino athletes seeing action in the 28th Southeast Asian Games here.
The promising billiards find shares the limelight with practical shooter Lamberto Espiritu and shotgun specialist Gabriel Tong, the country’s most senior citizens in the 11-nation sportsfest set to officially fire off on June 5.
Don’t let their ages deceive you, though. Espiritu and Tong, both 63 years old, can pull out a gun in a split second and hit the target unerringly.
“I never doubted their ability to get the gold,” said Philippine chief of mission Julian Camacho. “Our shooters have strong chances here, especially those from practical shooting.”
The 13-member shooting squad, headlined by Olympians Eric Ang and Paul Brian Rosario, is out to make a good account of itself after a forgettable stint in the 2013 Games in Burma (Myanmar). The shooters will open their bid on June 6.
Centeno, a 15-year-old billiards wunderkind back home, swept into the spotlight when she conquered world champion Rubilen Amit in the women’s 10-ball event of last year’s Philippine National Games.
The Zamboanga City teenager took the spot of Irish Rañola, a double-gold performer in the 2011 Palembang Games, in the 12-member snooker and billiards team.
Centeno beat Rañola, 7-1, in the SEA Games qualifying to join Amit as the country’s representative in the nine-ball event at the OCBC Arena Hall here.
“This is my first time to go out of the country and I can certainly feel the pressure,” said Centeno in Filipino. “I hope Rubilen and I can do well.”
Other first-timers in these Games who are of the same age as Centeno are snooker player Jeffry Roda and gymnast Rachelle Arellano.
“They are the future of the national team and we’re giving them a chance to prove themselves here,” said Camacho.
The Philippines is fielding 462 athletes in 35 sports in this global financial center with the sailors, under-23 Azkals, netball players and entries from canoeing, traditional boat racing, fencing, gymnastics and equestrian already accounted for.