Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 20) – The Philippines is sure to sweep the gold medals in the 31st Southeast Asian Games billiards pool singles events.
After Rubilen Amit and Johann Chua captured the gold medals in the women’s and men’s 9-ball pool singles events, respectively, the two are expected to repeat their feat when they face their compatriots in the 10-ball pool singles play.
Chua will have a rematch with defending US Open Pool champion Carlo Biado in the men’s division, while Amit will battle against Chezka Centeno for the fourth straight SEA Games edition in the women’s side.
The all-Filipino 10-ball pool singles finals were formalized after the four top Filipino cue artists beat their rivals in the semifinals on Friday at the Ha Dong Gymnasium in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi.
Amit dominated Thai opponent Pennipa Nakjui, 7-0, in their semifinals pairing.
Centeno, who beat Amit in front of their countrymen in 2019 to hoist the SEA Games women’s 10-ball pool singles champion, earned a close 7-5 win over hometown bet Xuan Vang Bui.
In the men’s side, Chua beat Singapore’s Aloysius Yapp, 9-2 to earn a finals berth.
Biado also edged Singaporean bet Sharik Aslam Sayed in the other semifinal matchup.
Chua defeated Biado for the Vietnam SEA Games men’s 9-ball pool singles title on Wednesday as the two are expected to stretch the Philippines’ reign in the 10-ball play. Dennis Orcollo won the men’s 10-ball pool title in 2019.
The two all-Filipino 10-ball pool singles finals will be played on Saturday. The female cue artists will first square off at 11 a.m. (Philippine time) while their male counterparts will battle at 3 p.m.
