‘Pool queens’ eye 1-2 billiards finish for PH

FILE – Chezka Centeno of the Philippines during the 28th SEA Games Women’s 9-Ball Pool held at the OCBC Arena Hall 4, Singapore Sports Hub.
INQUIRER PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA

The Philippines will bank on its “Pool Queens” to ensure a gold-silver finish in the Southeast Asian Games billiards competition.

“That’s our target. To meet again in the finals,” said two-time World 10-ball champion Rubilen Amit, referring to prodigy Chezka Centeno.

The 2005 and 2009 SEA Games champion was runner-up to teenage sensation Centeno during the women’s 9-ball competitions in the 2015 SEAG in Singapore.

Training together at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, the 35-year-old Amit said she has fostered a close relationship with the 18-year-old Centeno.

“I can’t say that I was mentoring her, because she’s already good at it, but I’m more of an Ate (elder sister) for her,” said Amit. “Hopefully, I can be a guide for her outside the pool hall.”

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

Amit finished fifth in the China Open last June, but she’s confident she can perform very well in the lone women’s event, the 9-ball singles, which will be held Aug. 22 at KLCC Hall 4.

Amit captured the 2009 and 2013 World 10-ball championship trophy and will share the top billing in the country’s all-star billiards cast that includes legend Efren “Bata” Reyes.

Centeno, who hails from Zamboanga, was discovered in the Philippine National Games when she, at the tender age of 11, bagged bronze. She also won 9-ball gold medal in the 2015 World Games in Shanghai.

Also making up the men’s team are SEA Games champions Warren Kiamco, Dennis Orcollo, Basil Hasan Al-Shaijar, Alvin Barbero, Johann Chua, Francisco dela Cruz and Jeffrey Roda.