Amit battles Centeno for 9-ball gold

Rubilen Amit of the Philippines during the 28th SEA Games 9-Ball pool Singles quarterfinals beating Fathrah Masum of Indonesia 7-2 held OCBC Arena Hall 4, Singapore Sports Hub.INQUIRER PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA

SINGAPORE—It’s Philippines versus Philippines as expected.

Rubilen Amit and Chezka Centeno assured the country of a gold and silver in the lone women’s billiards event as they demolished their semifinals foes in the 9-ball event Monday at the Southeast Asian Games here.

Crushing their foes every step of the way, Amit and Centeno will dispute the title Tuesday, at OCBC Hall 4 of Singapore Sports Hub.

“It’s great. We are so happy to be in the finals, whoever wins,” said the 33-year-old Amit who downed Burma’s Aung Aye Mi, 7-2.

Earlier, the 15-year-old Centeno dazzled the crowd with masterful 7-5 victory over a much older Chitcomnart Siraphat of Thailand.

The battle between the two-time world champion and five-time SEAG gold medalist Amit and the neophyte Centeno highlights the Philippines’ dominance in the sport.

The twin semifinal win also made it 2-of-2 for the Philippines in pool events after Warren Kiamco and Carlo Biado ruled the men’s 9-ball doubles last Sunday.

Biado and three-time champion Dennis Orcollo were still competing in the 9-ball singles.