How Centeno, Amit maintain PH on high of world billiards

Chezka Centeno and Rubilen Amit, who’re in an unique membership as the one feminine gamers to win the world 10-ball title twice, thrive in a novel dynamic as fierce rivals and shut associates

MANILA, Philippines – Rubilen Amit and Chezka Centeno stands out as the fiercest of opponents, however they’re additionally one another’s biggest supporters.

That dynamic is the driving power behind the brilliance of two of the best cue artists on the planet, with Centeno and Amit in an unique membership as the one gamers to rule the WPA Girls’s World 10-Ball Championship twice.

Centeno achieved the feat when she outlasted Amit in a historic all-Filipina last final October 12 in Bali, Indonesia, hacking out a 4-1, 2-4, 4-2, 3-4, 4-2 victory to recapture the crown she first received in 2023 in Klagenfurt, Austria. 

It marked the primary time the event’s finalists got here from the identical nation — a testomony to Centeno’s boundless potential on the age of 26 and Amit’s sustained excellence on the age 44. 

“I idolize her so I additionally wished to develop into a two-time world champion like her, and even surpass that,” mentioned Centeno in Filipino. 

Centeno admitted she felt shy as she confronted Amit within the last of a world championship for the primary time. It was, in any case, the stuff of goals for Centeno, who grew up wanting as much as Amit.

Earlier than Centeno broke into the scene, Amit was already a longtime pool star, profitable the world 10-ball crown within the event’s inaugural staging in 2009 and repeating as champion in 2013, with each editions held within the Philippines.

By 2013, Amit had additionally captured six of her whole 10 Southeast Asian Video games gold medals on high of a pair of World Combined Doubles Basic titles she received along with Filipino legend Efren “Bata” Reyes in 2009 and 2011. 

It didn’t take lengthy, although, for Centeno to observe within the footsteps of her childhood hero.

In her SEA Video games debut on the younger age of 15 in Singapore in 2015, Centeno — a Zamboanga Metropolis native who made the nationwide group after impressing within the Philippine Nationwide Video games in her pre-teens — struck gold within the ladies’s nine-ball singles, beating a minimum of Amit within the finale. 

That victory propelled Centeno to higher heights. 

Simply this yr, Centeno turned in runner-up finishes within the WPA Girls’s World Eight-Ball Championship in the US in July and the World Video games in China in August earlier than she broke by way of by overcoming Amit for the world 10-ball throne. 

“Ever since, Chezka has at all times had a powerful sport,” mentioned Amit. “I’m positive the child would accomplish extra. Her momentum is simply starting. I’m excited for her. At 26, proper? Wow. To have all these achievements already, I’m impressed with Chezka.” 

The loss to Centeno prevented Amit from changing into the reigning champion in two pool disciplines after she lastly struck gold within the WPA Girls’s World 9-Ball Championship in September final yr following a silver in 2007 and bronzes in 2018 and 2019. 

However even in defeat, Amit appeared the happiest for Centeno.

When Centeno pocketed the final ball, Amit pumped her fist in delight and gave her teammate a heat hug. 

“In relation to the sport, we’re targeted and we actually compete. I put aside the truth that we’re associates for the meantime. Then after the sport, we’re okay,” mentioned Centeno.

“I’m completely happy as a result of she is my idol and he or she helps me. We help one another,” Centeno mentioned. 

If Amit’s run to the ultimate proved something, it’s that she stays on high of her sport regardless of competing for over twenty years. 

“I assume I actually love what I do. I’m very obsessed with pool. One of many issues that I believe is an enormous issue [is] I like studying,” mentioned Amit.  

“The benefit of billiards is age [is not much of a factor]. Tatay Efren is 71, and but, he’s nonetheless aggressive. Though I in all probability wouldn’t be enjoying till I’m 71, however I’m hoping that I’ve extra years that my sport remains to be aggressive.” 

With Amit and Centeno on the forefront of the ladies’s sport within the Philippines, extra Filipina gamers are enticed to offer the game a shot.

Lots of them are competing within the Amit Cup, a event co-founded by Amit that’s set for its fourth season.

“We began with 24 gamers, now we’ve 200 ladies gamers. So we’re hoping to develop it much more, particularly now that Chezka has been profitable,” mentioned Amit. – Rappler.com