Amit heads strong Pinay cast in SEAG billiards

MANILA, Philippines - Billiards ace Rubilen Amit will seek to continue her medal-winning streak in the Southeast Asian Games when she spearheads the Philippine women’s pool team that will gun for glory in the 2015 edition in Singapore.

Amit, the first Filipina to win the world title, has been consistently landing in the podium in the biennial meet since her debut in 2005, capturing the gold five times already and snaring two silvers and the same number of bronzes.

She had missed the gold only once in five editions, placing second to compatriot Iris Rañola in the 9-ball singles finals in 2011 in Palembang, Indonesia.

Amit and Rañola will team up again in the June 5-16 SEA Games and are expected to be joined by teen sensation Cheska Centeno.

The 15-year-old Centeno is fresh from winning the Asian juniors title and copping a bronze in the world junior championship, both held in 2014, and should get her baptism of fire in the SEA Games.

The Pinay cuemasters will vie in 8-ball and 9-ball singles, the only women’s events in the program of the Singapore meet, which dropped regularly-held events 10-ball, doubles and rotation.

“Maganda ngayon dahil malakas na ang team pero nakakahinayang dahil inalis ng host Singapore ang ilang events na puwede tayong manalo (We have a strong team but it’s a pity the host Singaporeans scrap the other events where we could possibly win the golds, too),” said Amit.

Amit, the two-time world 10-ball ruler, is ranked eighth in the World Pool-Billiard Association’s global rankings.