Amit now a world champ

From : Philippine Daily Inquirer
By : Cedelf P. Tupas

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines’ dominance in billiards is no longer limited to the men’s game.

Rubilen Amit became the country’s first women’s world champion in the sport last night when she stunned two-time world champion Liu Shin-mei of Chinese Taipei, 10-4, in the Jbet.net World Women’s 10-Ball Championship before a huge crowd at the Block at SM North in Quezon City.

A losing finalist in the world 9-ball championship two years ago, the 27-year-old from Mandaue City, Cebu made sure there was no heartbreak this time as she dominated Liu from start to finish.

“I can’t believe I won,” said Amit, who was close to tears as she received the trophy and the winner’s check of $20,000.

The victory put Amit in an exclusive club of Filipino world billiards champions that include Efren “Bata” Reyes, who won the world 9-ball championship in 1999 and 8-ball title in 2004, Alex Pagulayan, the world 9-ball in 2004, and Ronnie Alcano, who also captured the 9-ball and 8-ball crowns in 2007.

Amit capped a week of breakthroughs for the Philippines. Gillian Go, an 11-year-old sensation from Quezon City, made her international debut in the tournament, finishing in the top 24.

Amit got off to a fiery start, taking five of the first seven racks. But she needed all the tricks in her bag to hold off the Taiwanese veteran.

Ahead 8-4, Amit banked the cue ball twice before it guided the orange-five to the side pocket in what was easily turned out to be the shot of the tournament. On the hill, Amit made a break and run-out, sending the crowd of mallgoers into jubilation.

“She’s a two-time world champion and I could not afford to give her a chance,” Amit said of Liu, who beat Austrian Jasmine Ouschan, 9-6, in the semifinals.