Prized cue artists Cheska Centeno and Rubilen Amit inched closer to the elusive gold medal as they made it to the semifinals of the women’s 9-ball singles event of the 29th Southeast Asian Games billiards competition, Friday afternoon at the KL Convention Center in Malaysia.
Centeno and Amit crushed their respective foes to move to a win shy of booking an all-Filipino finals encounter on Saturday.
After drawing a bye in the first round via the virtue of her gold medal finish in the previous SEA Games, Centeno toppled Angeli Ticoalu of Indonesia, 7-4, to march into the semifinals.
On the other hand, two-time world 10-ball queen Amit bested Indonesia’s Silviana Lu, 7-3, to avenge the unexpected setback of Francisco dela Cruz in the men’s English singles and Jeffrey Roda in the quarterfinals of the men’s snookers singles.
“Gagawin namin ang lahat para makuha ulit ang gold at silver medal par sa Pilipinas,” Centeno said.
In the men’s Round of Eight, Carlo Biado prevailed over Amnuayporn Chotipong of Thailand, 9-3, to advance to the next round.
So far, the star-studded billiards and snookers squad has yet to produce a gold medal.
Its only medal – a bronze – came from Dennis Orcollo and Warren Kiamco in the doubles event, a far cry from its campaign in the previous SEA Games in Singapore where it pocketed three golds, one silver, and five bronze medals.
Story from PSC-POC Media Group
