Golds in billiards
KUALA LUMPUR – Carlo Biado and Chezka Centeno delivered gold medals for Team Philippines in the 29th Southeast Asian Games billiards competition here Sunday.
A 19-year old prodigy from Zamboanga City, Centeno capitalized on the late-match blunder by fellow Pinay Rubilen Amit to run away with the gold medal in the women’s 9-ball singles event, 7-6, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center.
With the score tied at 6-all, Amit calmly sank the 7-ball in the left corner pocket for a perfect setup on the 9-ball and the gold medal that will serve as a badge of honor after losing this event to Centeno in the previous biennial meet.
But her excitement turned to horror as the cue ball rolled and sank in the opposite pocket, prompting Centeno to grab the golden opportunity to claim the victory.
“Hindi ko akalain na mananalo ako kasi nung na-miss ko yung 3-ball, sabi ko ‘talo na ako,’” said Centeno, who barged into the limelight when she won the gold mdeal in the World Games in Shanghai in 2015.
Amit, for her part, couldn’t help, but shake her head after the costly blunder.
But she pocketed the silver while the gold medal remains in the Philippines’ coffer following her victory over a Malaysian foe in the semifinals.
Biado added to the country’s golden harvest as he defeated Duong Quoc Hoang of Vietnam, 9-5, in the finals of men’s 9-ball singles event.
Samuel Morrisson, meanwhile, grabbed the taekwondo gold in impressive fashion after being spurred by the controversial loss of teammate Arven Alcantara.
Morisson vented his ire on Dinggo Ard Prayogo of Indonesia, 28-18, to bag the gold medal in the men’s -74kg class taekwondo competition.