PH pockets two golds in 9-ball pool singles
KUALA LUMPUR -World Cup medalists Carlo Biado and Chezka Centeno dominated their respective events in billiards to power the Philippines’ four-gold harvest Sunday in the 29th Southeast Asian Games.
Biado kept his winning fashion and proved himself superior by topping the men’s 9-ball pool singles event with a 9-5 blowout against Duong Quoc Hoang of Vietnam.
“Masaya ako na nakapagbigay na naman ako ng panalo para sa ating bansa,” said Biado, whose tenacity and solid shots gave him an early 4-0 advantage in the race to nine title match.
Biado’s teammate Johann Chua settled for the bronze.
On the other hand, Centeno started the gold harvest of the day, beating fellow Filipino tormentor Rubilen Amit, 76 to retain the women’s 9-ball pool single crown.
“I didn’t expect to win the match, I was shocked when she (Amit) scored a shot but scratched the mother ball in the side pocket," said Centeno.
Amit, admitting she was on course for the win with four balls remaining until the “fatal error,” settled for the silver.
Centeno also beat Amit in the 2015 edition of the regional biennial meet held in Singapore.
The other two golds came from Samuel Morrison who ruled the men’s under 74kg Kyurogi event in taekwondo and judoka Mariya Takahashi who topped the women’s above 63kg up to 70kg in judo.
Contributing in the last few days for Team Philippines were Michael Christian who took the silver in figure skating (individual) and Arven Alcantara in men’s under 68kg taekwondo.
As of 4:30 p.m. Monday (Aug. 28), the Philippines tallied 23-28-55 (gold-silver-bronze). PNA