By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Chezka Centeno thumped Korean Seo Seoa, 11-7, to capture the inaugural Asian Pool Federation Women’s 9-Ball Championship in Singapore Sunday, Aug. 28.
It was an uphill climb for the former World Junior Champion after dropping her opening match against Singapore’s Jessica Tan, 7-6, to be relegated in the loser’s bracket.
She quickly recovered from that defeat by crushing Indonesia’s Fatrah Matsum, 7-1, Korea’s Lee Woojin, 7-3, and Singapore’s Suvene Ng, 9-3, in the Round of 16.
In the quarterfinals, she outshone reigning Southeast Asian Games champion and teammate Rubilen Amit, 9-6, before drubbing Vietnam’s Bui Xuang Vang, 9-1, in the semis.
Meanwhile, James Aranas fell short in the men’s division finals and bowed to Chinese Taipei’s Ko Pin Yi.