By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
The Philippines produced another world champion after Chezka Centeno – one of the sporting marvels from Zamboanga City – captured the 2023 WPA Women’s World 10-Ball Championship crown in Klagenfurt, Austria on Sunday, Oct. 22.
Showing she has become wiser and deadlier than the last time they clashed, Centeno dominated Han Yu of China, 9-5, to pocket the biggest title of a flourishing career worth $50,000 (around P2.8 million).
“I can hardly believe it. I am your new Women’s World 10-Ball Champion! This journey started when I was a five-year-old with a dream and today, I am living it!” an emotional Centeno wrote on a social media post.
“It’s a surreal moment that brings back memories of countless hours of hard work, tears, and disappointments. They are all worth it,” she added.
The title win, enabled Centeno to etch her name in the exclusive club of champions apart from becoming the second Filipina to win the world title after teammate Rubilen Amit won it in 2009 and 2013.
With Amit cheering on the sidelines, Centeno dictated the match against Han, a two-time semifinalist in this event and a three-time WPA 9-ball champion.
The 24-year-old Pinay cue artist took an early 4-1 lead after pocketing a series of tough shots and never looked back.
It was a revenge of sorts for Centeno as the Chinese was responsible for booting out Amit, 9-3, in the quarterfinals.
Centeno also yielded to Han, 7-4, when she was just 18 years old playing for the gold medal in the women’s 9-ball pool singles in the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
After claiming the title, it was Amit who draped the Philippine flag over a jubilant Centeno – a gesture that made Centeno more emotional then cried unabashedly to the cheers of the crowd.
Centeno earned an opening-round bye in the elimination stage before routing Pan Xiaoting of China, 7-4, and England’s Allison Fisher, 7-3, to advance to the knockout stage.
She made her title campaign felt with a 9-0 thrashing of Germany’s Melanie Sussengut in the Round 16 and the 9-2 triumph over Chou Chieh-Yu of Chinese Taipei.
Centeno was at her best in the semis where she pulled off a miracle win, bouncing back from the brink of defeat after falling behind 8-4 in the race-to-9 contest.
She willed her way behind incredible shots – not to mention powerful breaks – the to win the match, 9-8, and earn a shot at getting back at the Chinese rival.
And Centeno did it with a virtuoso performance, a feat that enabled her to join Zamboanga’s best, including Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz and boxer Eumir Marcial.
