Centeno, Chua hold future of PH billiards

Chezka Centeno

Rising cue artists Chezka Centeno and Johann Chua have earned their spurs to lead the next generation of Filipino pool stars.

Only 16 years old, Centeno made history recently by becoming the first Filipino to win the 2015 World Junior 9-Ball Championship in Shanghai while Chua topped the 48th All-Japan Championship in Amagasaki Prefecture.

Centeno demolished Xia Yuying of China, 9-3, in the title match to punctuate a marvelous year for the Zamboanga City teenager.

She earlier won the women’s 9-ball singles gold in the Southeast Asian Games in Singapore at the expense of former women’s 10-ball world champion Rubilen Amit.

On the way to the title, Centeno toppled a wall of Chinese foes, beating Teng Jiang in the semifinals, 9-0, and Wang Xiaoting, 9-2, in the quarterfinals.

Chua dug himself out of a 0-5 hole to defeat former world 8-ball champ Ronnie Alcano in the all-Filipino finals, 11-7, in Japan.

Tying the match in the 14th rack, Chua finally gained control and finished off Alcano by sweeping the next four frames.

The pride of Bacolod City pocketed $28,600 (P1.31 million) for his victory.

Chua made it to the finals by besting four-time US Open champion Shane Van Boening, 11-6, in the Final Four.