SEA Games: Chezka Centeno, Rubilen Amit cruise in semis; gold guaranteed

By Jonas Terrado

Defending champion Chezka Centeno and Rubilen Amit arranged another all-Filipino final after winning their semifinal matches Saturday in the women’s 9-ball singles of the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the Tent City of the Manila Hotel.

Centeno cruised to a 7-1 thrashing of Singapore’s Tan Hui Ming while Amit downed Vutthiphan Kongkaket 7-2 to set up a third straight duel for the gold in the 9-ball event of the distaff side.

It will be the second final duel for Centeno and Amit in these SEA Games after winning their semifinal matches in women’s 10-ball singles last Friday.

Both were disputing the women’s 10-ball gold at press time with Amit seeking to defend the crown she won in 2013 Nay Pyi Taw Games. Ten-ball was scrapped in 2015 and 2017.

They’ll meet for the women’s 9-ball gold at 7 p.m. Sunday evening, with Centeno aiming to win for the third straight time and Amit determined to avenge her two defeats in the 2015 and 2017 finals.

The two were also to complete their initial goal of setting up an all-Philippine affair for the gold in both singles events, their place in the podium as the only question mark.

The semifinal triumphs was part of a hectic Saturday schedule for the two women cue artists.

Centeno and Amit started the day as teammates, defeating Vietnam’s Thi Ngoc Le and Bui Xuan Vang in the opening round of the women’s 9-ball doubles.

They’ll play Thailand’s Kongkaket and Sasiwimon Wannaphathip in the quarters slated 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the second Philippine team in women’s 9-ball doubles composed of veteran Iris Ranola and debutant Floriza Andal suffered an early exit after a 7-5 loss to Malaysia’s Siew Boon Lim and Poi Sei Wong.

Carlo Biado also ended his SEAG stint in disappointment, bowing to Indonesia’s Ismail Kadir 9-2 in the quarterfinals of the men’s 10-ball singles.

Biado finished the 2019 meet with just one bronze which came earlier this week in the men’s 9-ball doubles alongside Johann Chua. He won gold in the men’s 9-ball event of the 2015 Singapore Games and the men’s 9-ball singles of the 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur.

Source: Manila Bulletin