MANILA, Philippines — Rubilen Amit beat Chezka Centeno, 7-3, in an all-Philippine duel to capture the women’s 9-ball singles gold medal in billiards action of the 30th Southeast Asian Games Sunday at the Manila Hotel Tent.
A day after losing the 10-ball gold to Centeno, Amit fought back with a more aggressive game, finally prevailing in a rematch of the 2017 Kuala Lumpur finals that she lost.
The 38-year-old native of Cebu said she focused on using the match as her training for the World Women’s 9-ball Championship next week in China.
“This was a Philippines-Philippines match so there was a reason to take it easy. But I focused, needing to use this as a match to prepare for the world championship,” she said.
Amit’s victory came a few hours after she and Centeno teamed up in beating Vutthiphan Kongkaket and Sasiwimon Wannaprathip of Thailand 7-6 for a semifinal berth in the 9-ball doubles competition.
Earlier, fellow Filipino Dennis Orcollo survived a big scare to beat Singapore’s Aloysius Yapp 9-7 and advance to the men’s 10-ball singles final. (LO/IAMIGO/CNS)
