Rubilen Amit, 2 other Filipinos down foes

Rubilen Amit

MANILA, Philippines – Former world champion Rubilen Amit started her bid to regain the title she won in 2009 with a dominant performance against an unheralded Russian Wednesday in the 2011 Yalin Women’s World 10-Ball Championship at the Robinson’s Galleria.

Amit, a native of Cebu, outclassed Natalya Seroshtan, 6-2, to take the early lead in Group 1 of the tournament that lured 48 of the finest players in the women’s game.

The 48 players were divided into eight groups with the top three players advancing to the knockout stage.

Two other Filipino players—Irish Ranola and Mary Rakin—also prevailed on the first day of the tournament.

Ranola, who like Amit belongs to the Puyat Sports stable of billiards godfather Aristeo “Poch” Puyat, pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the day by crushing Fu Xiao Fang of China, 6-3.

Unfazed by the form of the reigning China Open champion, Ranola pocketed balls with clinical precision to take the early lead in Group 2.

“Fu is a tough opponent. It’s a good thing I was able to beat her,” Ranola said in Filipino.

Rakin, a Fil-American based in Daly City in California, also breezed past Russian Anastasia Necheava, 6-2, in Group 2.

S.M. Liu of China, who lost to Monica Webb of the United States, 6-4, will be Amit’s next assignment.
Ranola next faces H.C. Lin of Chinese-Taipei.