Centeno dedicates win to late mom

MANILA, Philippines — “Ma, I did it! Para sa’yo ito (This one’s for you).”

Sobbing Filipina pool ace Chezka Centeno uttered these words moments after pocketing her breakthrough WPA Women’s 8-Ball World Championship title in Green Bay, Wisconsin yesterday.

The 27-year-old Zamboanga City native was, of course, referring to her mom Josephine, who passed away just two months ago.

Centeno, who bested Chinese Taipei’s Wei Tzu Chien, 8-5, in the semifinals less than an hour before, turned back grizzled veteran and many-time world champion Kelly Fisher of Great Britain, 9-6, to secure a first 8-ball crown.

The feat was a latest addition to Centeno’s three world titles – two in 10-ball in 2023 and last year, and one in the World Mixed Teams where she played side by side with fellow world champions Carlo Biado and Rubilen Amit and fast-rising Jeffrey Roda in topping this year’s edition in Las Vegas last February.

The only one missing from her collection is the 9-ball championship, which many believe she will secure in the future.

After sealing the 8-ball crown, Centeno shook hands with Fisher, who was all praises of her younger Filipina conqueror.

“I have won almost everything except 8-ball and I wanted to win it and I’m disappointed I wasn’t able to,” said the 47-year-old Briton legend, who was world champion in snooker five times, English billiards twice, 10-ball once and 9-ball two times.