By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Rubilen Amit settled for a runner-up finish in the women’s division of the 2024 Asian 10-Ball Championships after yielding to Chinese rival Liu Shasha in a hill-hill battle, 7-6, on Thursday, Dec. 19, in Doha, Qatar.
Amit tried to end the year in a blaze of glory after winning her first World 9-Ball crown last September but luck was not on her side this time and finished second best in the 37-player tournament.
The loss came a few hours after she routed another Chinese in Han Yu, 6-3, in the semifinals.
Despite the defeat, the two-time World 10-Ball champion earned a berth to the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China.
“Thank you to all the Filipinos here in Doha who have been very supportive to me and Chezka. Maraming salamat po sa inyo,” said Amit in a social media post, referring to teammate Chezka Centeno.
Amit and Centeno were actually eyeing an all-Filipino final but the latter, the reigning world 10-ball titlist, bowed to Liu, 6-5, in the other semis pairing.
Centeno accepted the defeat graciously, claiming breaks went to Liu at crunch time.
“I was so close to making it to the finals but ended up losing in a super intense match,” said Centeno in a social media post. “I really wanted to secure my spot in the finals, but it just wasn’t meant to be. There were a few mistakes I made that cost me the match, but Liu Shasha played incredibly well and is still definitely one of the best in the game.”
“While it’s not the result I hoped for, I’m grateful for the experience,” she said.
Displaying her class, Amit easily beat Lebanon’s Rana Nasserddine, 5-0; Singapore’s Anran Yu, 5-2; Indonesia’s Annabella Putri Yohana, 6-0; and China’s Chen Simming, 6-3, on the way to the finals.