Amit cruises; Ranola stuns fave Chinese

MANILA, Philippines - Rubilen Amit picked up an easy victory while compatriot Iris Ranola pulled off a giant upset as the Filipinas got off to a fiery start in the 2011 Yalin World Women’s 10-ball Championship at the Robinson’s Galleria yesterday.

Amit, the 2009 champion, coasted to a 6-2 triumph over Nataliya Soresthan of Russia to kick off her bid in Group 1 while Ranola shockedChi 2010 Asian Games bronze medalist Fu Xiao Fang of China, 6-3, to gain in Group 2.

Cebuana pride Amit pounced on Soresthan’s crucial misses in the fourth and fifth racks to seize a 4-1 cushion in the race-to-6 group match.

“Actually, maganda pocketing niya pero nagulat ako na nag-scratch siya. I’m happy with my performance even though I’m still adjusting to the table,” said Amit, the top lady cuemaster from the stable of Putch Puyat.

The 30-year-old Amit was slated to play her second assignment, against Shin Mei Liu of Chinese Taipei late last night.

Sharing the spotlight was Ranola, who hacked out a vengeful triumph over the fancied Chinese, world 9-ball champion in 2010.

“I didn’t expect to win because she blanked me in the Asian Games,” said Ranola. “She wasn’t lucky with her shots. I also had bad shots but I was able to recover.”

Mary Rakin, a Caviteña from Daly City, California, made it three-for-three for Phl on opening day as she thumped Anastasia Necheava of Russia, 6-1, also in Group 2.

In other matches, S.M.Chen of China beat Yu Ram Cha of Korea, 6-5, while Kamila Khodjeava of Poland routed Angel Paglia of the US, 6-3, in Group 3; Ga Young Kim of Korea toppled countryman Y.M. Lim, 6-4, as Melissa Rademakers of the Netherlands nipped Emily Duddy of the US, 6-4, in Group 4;

Kelly Fisher of Great Britain crushed E. J. Park of Korea, 6-5, as Jennifer Barreta of the USA tripped L. Dos Santos of France, 6-3, in Group 5; Allison Fisher of Great Britain bested N. Praveen of India, 6-2 in Group 6;

S.S. Liu of China dumped Indira Gowda of India, 6-1, while Britany Bryant of Canada waylaid T. Peeters of the Netherlands, 6-4, in Group 7; and C. Kawahara of Japan edged C. Y. Chou of Chinese-Taipei, 6-5, in Group 8.

The top three players from each group after the group stages will advance to the next round of the event, organized by Dragon Promotions in cooperation with Puyat Sports and Star Billiards Center. Matches are aired at ABS-CBN through Studio 23 with The Philippines STAR as official media partner.