Billiards
National Games: Paco high schooler with early victory in women’s billiards
DUMAGUETE CITY – Denise Santos shocked national team member Cheska Centeno, 7-3, at the start of the women’s 9-ball singles competition of the 2nd POC-PSC National Games Saturday here at the Convention Center.
The 15-year old teenager from Pateros swept the last four racks after 12-year old Centeno, bronze medalist last year in Bacolod City, tied the count at three-all, to book her first win in the annual event which also has the backing of Smart.
“Kinakabahan po ako kasi ngayon lang ako nakalaro sa PNG,” said Santos, an incoming fourth-year high school student in Paco Catholic School. “Gusto ko po kasing maging part ng national team kaya po ako sumali dito,” she added.
Centeno, 12 and an incoming Grade Six Student in Zamboanga City, is now relegated in the losers’ bracket.
She landed in the top four last year with Rubilen Amit winning the gold while Mary Ann Basa grabbed the silver. Irish Ranola was the other bronze medalist.
Amit and Ranola skipped this year’s PNG because of commitments abroad. Only seven players are entered in the women’s 9-ball singles event.
In the men’s 9-ball singles, national pool member Luis Saberda swept local bet Allan Culi, Jr. 9-0 whie Zamboanga’s Edison Heresillas defeated Joel Dy of Dumaguete City, 9-5.
Local bet Randy Tabares scored a 9-6 victory over Cris Lee Amposta, 9-6 while Francisco Tropezado, another Dumaguete bet, beat Kiefer Dy, 9-4.
Action in arnis, chess,futsal,karatedo, lawn tennis,sepak takraw, table tennis, and beach and indoor volleyball also got under way Saturday afternoon here.
The much anticipated track and field starts Monday, and swimming on Tuesday. National team members Marestella Torres , Rene Herrera and Jhessie King are here to compete
Tracksters Torres and Herrera are both bound for the London Olympic Games along swimmer Lacuna.
