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SEA Games: Rubilen Amit happy to pass billiards torch to Chezka Centeno

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines—No one was happier for Chezka Centeno on Saturday afternoon than the woman she defeated for the gold medal in the 10-ball singles in the Southeast Asian Games.Centeno overcame the player she calls &quot;Ate&quot; in the finals, tallying a 7-3 triumph over veteran cue artist Rubilen Amit for the 10-ball crown. It marked the third time that Centeno had beaten Amit in the gold medal match in the SEA Games; she also pulled off the feat in 2015 and 2017, albeit in 9-ball.Afterward, the 20-year-old downplayed her triumph. &quot;Swerte lang ako dahil wala siyang break,&quot; Centeno said of Amit, a player 18 years her senior.Amit, however, had no such reservations about the match. Asked what happened, she said simply: &quot;Si Chezka ang nangyari.&quot;&quot;Ang galing (niya),&quot; she said. &quot;Mapapanood naman natin, talagang break and run siya, tapos ako wala akong break.&quot;Despite losing to Centeno three times now in a gold medal match in the SEA Games, Amit could not be happier for her younger teammate. She has served as a mentor and a friend to Centeno for years now, and to see the youngster experience such success gives Amit great pride.It also gives Amit plenty of hope for the future of women&#x27;s billiards in the Philippines. She is well aware that she won&#x27;t be playing forever, but knowing that Centeno is ready to take up the mantle makes it easier for Amit.&quot;I&#x27;m very thankful din na, at my age — I&#x27;m 38 now — and I&#x27;m sure that aside from she&#x27;s the present, she is also the future,&quot; Amit said of Centeno.&quot;Ang basis ko kasi, mabait na bata. Ang dami na niyang na-achieve, pero mapapansin mo mahiyain pa rin and very humble pa rin.&quot;That&#x27;s one thing na I&#x27;m very grateful for, na kung meron man na susunod and tatagal talaga, siya &#x27;yun.&quot;Centeno, now a three-time gold medalist in the SEA Games, has more chances to add to her collection. She plays Amit in the final of women&#x27;s 9-ball Sunday, and they will also try to win the gold in women&#x27;s 9-ball doubles.Amit made it clear that she and Centeno have not discussed if they are going to split the gold in 10-ball and 9-ball.&quot;Nag-usap kami, actually, sabi ko nga sa kanya, may nag-mention nga na what if isa 10-ball, &#x27;yung isa 9-ball,&quot; she said. &quot;Sabi ko ano, it&#x27;s our respect for the game.&quot;&quot;Another is kasi once you retire, you have an incentive based on your achievements. So I don&#x27;t want to take it away from her. If she could win three golds, then she wins three golds,&quot; she added.For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

Amit, 38, considers the 20-year-old Centeno "the present and the future" of Philippine women's billiards.

Amit, 38, considers the 20-year-old Centeno "the present and the future" of Philippine women's billiards.

SEA Games: Rubilen Amit happy to pass billiards torch to Chezka Centeno

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SEA Games: Rubilen Amit happy to pass billiards torch to Chezka Centeno

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 08, 2019 06:05 AM PHT

Read More:

Southeast Asian Games

SEA Games

2019 SEA Games

30th SEA Games

Philippine SEA Games

PH SEA Games

Rubilen Amit

Chezka Centeno

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