World Pool: Amit, Rañola triumph; Centeno scores

Filipino bets Rubilen Amit and Iris Rañola started their climb out of their tough group with contrasting wins yesterday, even as 14-year-old Cheska Centeno created a ripple on Day One of the Yalin Women’s World 10-Ball Championship at Resorts World Manila.

Amit prevailed in a battle of former world champions, dumping 2011 9-ball titlist Zhu Qing Bi of China, 6-4, in Group 7, where Rañola overwhelmed Ho Yun Tan of Chinese-Taipei, 6-2, for her first victory.

Only the Top 3 players from the eight six-player groups will advance to the knockout stage and Centeno enhanced her chances with a 6-1 whipping of Japan’s Keiko Yukawa in Group 5.

But another Filipino bet, Gillian Go, absorbed a 1-6 loss from Chinese Taipei’s Yuan Chun lin in Group 6.

Centeno, whose family owns a pool hall in Zamboanga, won three matches last year, before losing to Amit in the first knockout phase. She’s determined to do better this year despite far from ideal preparations because of the war in her hometown.

“I think I have improved because of my experience last year,” said the reed-thin Centeno, who started playing at five years old.

A winner of the inaugural tournament in 2009, Amit played steady, taking three of the first four racks against Zhu, who burst into the world scene with her surprise triumph in the world 9-ball championship two years ago.

Amit reached the hill on the eighth rack, but only managed to finish off Zhu two racks later where the Filipino buried two difficult shots on the yellow-one and pink-four ball on the way to wrapping up the win.

“It was hard facing a world champion and I’m happy with my performance,” said Amit. “There were errors but I think I played well enough (to win).”

Rañola was slated to face Indonesia’s Angeline Ticolau last night.