Teen upstart wins; Rañola loses 1st matches in Women’s 10-Ball

MANILA —Thirteen-year-old billiard prodigy Cheska Centeno of the Philippines kicked off her campaign in the World Pool Billiard Association’s 4th Annual Yalin Women’s World 10-Ball Championship with a 6-4 win over Japan's Noriko Onoda yesteday at the Robinson's Galleria in Ortigas.

Before a huge and appreciative crowd, the Zamboangeña broke the 4-all deadlock, winning two consecutive racks for a 6-4 victory.

"Mabuti na lamang naging matatag ako sa bandang huli, masyadong dikitan ang laban eh," she said.

Reigning Southeast Asian Games double gold medalist Iris Rañola, also from the Philippines, is not as fortunate as she dropped her opening match against Kimuka Maki of Japan with a similar 6-4 output.

“Di sumasablay y'ung kalaban natin eh. Hanggang sa huli matatag pa din sya saka malas talaga,” said Rañola, who is also from Zamboanga City.

Rañola had a chance to reach the hill but missed a tough 9-ball allowing her Japanese rival to seize a 5-4 lead and never look back.

"Krusyal y'ung 9-Ball pero mahirap talaga kung naipasok ko y'ung lamang sana ako na 5-4 para maging puro ako at ako pa ang sasargo," she added.

With the early setback, Rañola is in a must-win situation against Charlene Chai of Singapore. Rañola and Chai are 1-1 in their head-to-head matches.

Chai defeated Rañola during the semifinal round of the 2009 Laos SEA Games but the Filipina cue artist avenged her defeat after edging Chai in this year's WPA World 9-Ball in China.

A whopping top prize of $21,000 is up for grabs in the event.

In other matches Kyoko Sone of Japan nipped Amanda Rahayu of Indonesia, 6-2; Xiao Ting Pan of China crushed Shen Men Liu of Chinese-Taipei, 6-2; Lin Hsiao Chi of Chinese-Taipei defeated Nicola Rossouw of Republic of South Africa, 6-2; Chang Yang Ting of Chinese-Taipei beat Bokka Junko of Korea, 6-2; and Lai Hui Saan of Chinese-Taipei outclassed Kynthia Ofrandis of the Netherlands, 6-5. (PR)