Zamboanga's teen sensation outduels Amit in PNG

MANILA, Philippines - Teen sensation Cheska Centeno came through with the worthiest performance of the day by pulling the rug from former Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Rubilen Amit in a hill-hill 7-6 win in the nine-ball competition of the Philippine Sports Commission National Games at the Rizal Pool Hall on Sunday.

Centeno, a 13-year-old lass from Zamboanga City who snared a bronze in this same event two years ago in Bacolod City, will thus advance to the next round while Amit, one of the best, if not the best, cue artists in the country today, was pushed on the brink of elimination if she loses another match.

Dany Funelas shared the limelight after he harvested his third gold by ruling the men's 200-meter race in 51.57 seconds, finishing ahead of Hermie Macaranas with 52.27 and Reymart Nevado with 5.76 at the Manila Bay fronting Roxas Boulevard.

Funelas' other wins came in the men's canoe 500-m and dragon boat 10-crew 500-m as part of the Taytay Boys squad.

Amit though was unperturbed although she was awed by Centeno's prodigous billiards talent.

"She is talented and has a big heart, she will a bright future that's for sure," said Amit, a former World 10-ball champion.

The day also belonged to national team standouts John Chicano and Kim Mangrobang, who bagged the gold medals in their repsective divisions in triathlon staged at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Chicano, 22, reigned supreme in the men's side in an hour and 56 seconds while Mangrobang topped the distaff side in 1:13.34 to crown herself champion of her event for the third straight year.

"I'm just happy to win the event for the third time, its a big accomplishment for me," said Mangrobang.

For Chicano, who is coming off a productive training trip in Brisbane, Australia recently, it was a big leap from a bronze medal performance a year ago in Dumaguete City to gold medal in this edition.

"I learned a lot from our Australian training that I used it all to win here," said Chicano, who is scheduled to participate in the World Games in Colombia from July 25 to August 4.

Jonard Saim and Nikko Huelgas timed in 1:02.34 and 1:03.15 for the silver and bronze medals, respectively, while Mirasol Abad and Bic Ferreria took the silver and bronze by clocking 1:14.42 and 1:28.23.

Over at the Rizal Tennis Center, heavy favorite Johnny Arcilla smashed Roderick Lazaro, 6-2, 6-0, to surge ahead along with 14-year-old AJ Lim, Elbert Anasta, PJ Tierro and Marc Reyes.

Lim overpowered Leo Laping, 6-0, 6-0, Anasta dumped brother Rollie, 6-2, 6-2, Tierro blasted Radha Reyes, 6-1, 6-2, and Reyes downed Jessie Villarin, 6-0, 6-1.