BY JONAS TERRADO
RUBILEN Amit and Chezka Centeno relished their tag team partnership that resulted to a gold medal win in the women’s 9-ball doubles of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
Amit and Centeno blanked Indonesia’s Fathrah Masum and Nony Andilah, 7-0, in Tuesday’s final at the Tent City of the Manila Hotel to share the distinction as the country’s best performing cue artists in the biennial meet.
The team-up is a contrast to their two gold medal encounters earlier in the competition with Centeno prevailing in the 10-ball and Amit exacting a measure of revenge in 9-ball.
But for both, their partnership is like as if they were having their usual practices at Rizal Memorial and most recently at a makeshift facility inside Harrison Plaza.
“We’re really enjoying the moment. Parang nagpapraktis lang,” said Amit.
The win capped off Amit’s return to SEA Games form after the gold eluded her in 2015 and 2017 with losses to Centeno in the 9-ball finals.
Centeno on the other hand had her best SEA Games performance yet in what could be a sign of things to come for the 20-year-old from Zamboanga City.
The young cue artist was glad that she had a veteran-savvy teammate in Amit at her side.
“Galing din po ng partner ko. Puro benta eh pag break nila. Maganda rin break nila pero may mga error,” Centeno said.
The two hope that their link-up will be the first of many.
“Sana meron din world doubles na women kasi for sure, mag-eenjoy kami. Magkukulitan lang kami,” Amit said.
