“MA, I did it! Para sa’yo ito (This one’s for you).”
A sobbing Filipina pool ace Chezka Centeno choked out these words moments after pocketing her breakthrough WPA Women’s 8-Ball World Championship title in Green Bay, Wisconsin on Monday.
The 27-year-old Zamboanga City native was, of course, referring to her mom Josephine, who passed away just two months ago.
Ms. Centeno, who bested Chinese Taipei’s Wei Tzu Chien, 8-5, in the semifinals less than an hour before, turned back grizzled veteran and many-time world champion Kelly Fisher of Great Britain, 9-6, to secure the former’s first 8-ball crown.
The feat was a latest addition to Ms. Centeno’s three world titles — two in 10-ball in 2023 and last year, and one in the World Mixed Teams where she played side by side with fellow world champions Carlo Biado and Rubilen Amit, and fast-rising Jeffrey Roda in topping this year’s edition in Las Vegas last February.
The only one missing from her collection is the 9-ball championship, which everyone knows she will eventually secure in the future.
There were some anxious moments though in the 15th rack when, up 8-6, and with three balls left on the table — one solid and stripe each and the 8-ball — got a lucky break after Ms. Fisher’s shot ended up in a frozen ball.
It proved the death knell for Ms. Fisher and clincher for Ms. Centeno, who sealed the deal by sinking the 12-ball and 8-ball.
After sealing the crown, Ms. Centeno shook hands with Ms. Fisher, who was all praises of her younger Filipina conqueror.
“I have won almost everything except 8-ball and I wanted to win it and I’m disappointed I wasn’t able to,” said the 47-year-old Briton legend, who was world champion in snooker five times, English billiards twice, 10-ball once and 9-ball two times.
“But I wanted to say she (Ms. Centeno) is a fantastic player first of all and she deserves every ounce of her body. I know her mom would be proud and I understand what she feels and I’m happy for her,” she added.
When it was her turn to speak, Ms. Centeno couldn’t help but cry and had a hard time mincing the words.
When she found the words, the mic malfunctioned but there was one word she spoke that was heard loud and clear — Mom. — Joey Villar