BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Still sharp and deadly.
Rubilen Amit, 38, proved she’s not over the hill yet by getting back at Chezka Centeno, 7-3, to clinch the gold medal in women’s 9-ball singles event of the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the Manila Hotel Tent City.
Displaying the form that has made her the country’s No. 1 player in years, Amit recovered from a dry break in the opening rack and controlled the game throughout in a rematch of the 2017 Kuala Lumpur edition finals where Centeno won the gold medal.
Revenge, however, was not in the mind of Amit as she used this match as part of her build upfor the World Women 9-Ball Championship set next week in Hainan, China.
“Kasi kung SEA Games, Philippines-Philippines na eh, so medyo pwedeng bumaba yung killer’s instinct. So inisip ko na lang na yung laban na to, pang world championship na,”
“I’m very happy naman with my performance.”
Amit lauded Centeno’s aggressiveness, particularly her pocketing skills.
“Any time of the day, di talaga ako mananalo sa pocketing nya. Her confidence was there,” the Cebuana star said.
Amit and Centeno also battled in the 10-ball finals with the latter clinching the gold medal.