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CHEZKA CENTENO EATS QUIETLY at a corner at a bowling and billiards hall in Makati City. Just 20 years old, she looks just like any other young woman, belying her status as already one of the most decorated stars in her sport.
“Hello, ako po si Chezka Centeno. I'm 20 years old. Two times SEA Games gold medalist,” she says meekly when asked to introduce herself into the camera. She is shy, obviously not comfortable with the attention.
We move to the billiards table, where she immediately becomes more at ease. It’s little wonder, considering she has been playing the game since she was a little child in her native Zamboanga.
“May bilyaran po kami sa bahay,” she says, explaining her precocious start. “Dati po naglalaro po ako ng dampa, tapos after ng laro ng dampa po, diretso po ako sa billiards.”
It may have started out as fun and games, but her parents quickly saw potential in the young girl.
“Hanggang sa seven years old po ako, naglalaro na po ako ng local tournament doon sa Zamboanga,” she says.
Chezka is fifth of six daughters for Fausto and Josephine Centeno. The family had always been into sports; in fact, Chezka and her sisters used to train in arnis. “Lahat po kami magkakapatid sa school po ‘yon, tapos sabi ni Papa, mag-arnis daw so ayun, nag-arnis po kaming lahat magkakapatid,” she says.
But it was always billiards that owned her heart. She would play against all comers, usually older, more seasoned male players who wouldn’t bat an eyelash about beating a little girl in the games.
“Mga matanda po. Puro lalaki. Lagi po akong talo eh,” she says. “Kaibigan ng tatay ko. Minsan kaibigan ko. Ganoon. Lagi po akong talo kaya ayun lagi po akong donation.”
But rather than getting discouraged, all those defeats only served to fuel Chezka to improve. “Ayun 'yong sabi ko ‘Baka ito, mag-aangat pa ako sa tira ko.’ Sabi ko ‘Kahit talo, lagi akong talo pero bawi ako kapag [puwede] na,’” Chezka says.
HER REFLECTIONS ABOUT HER HUMBLE beginnings are interrupted by laughter from the next table, where a group of students have started off a game — on an afternoon of a school day.
Turning back to Chezka, we ask: did she ever cut classes to play billiards too?
“Every afternoon nagka-cut po ako. Lunch. Hindi na ako pumapasok,” Chezka admits, laughing.
While other parents may have raised an eyebrow about their daughter skipping school, Chezka’s parents were always supportive, seeing the special talent their daughter had. Her father, in fact, served as her first mentor in billiards, showing her tough love at the tables.
“Minsan kasi si Papa pinapagalitan ako sa training, lalo na sa Zamboanga,” she says.
There was one thing that almost gave her pause.
“Nakikita ko na puro lalaki lang sa billiards,” Chezka recalls. Thankfully, the emergence of female billiards stars such as world champion Rubilen Amit signaled to her that there was a future for her in the sport. “Tapos noong nakita ko na may naglalaro rin na babae, kaya 'yon [tinuloy ko na].”
After playing in school and local tournaments, Chezka made it to the Palarong Pambansa in 2014. She was so good that by 2015, she had made it to the national team for the Southeast Asian Games.
“Sobrang saya po,” she says about making it to the national team. “Nandoon 'yong mga idol ko — sina Efren ‘Bata’ [Reyes], Rubilen Amit po.”
FULL COVERAGE: 30th Southeast Asian Games on GMA News Online
Like every other Filipino kid into billiards, she had only watched Bata on television when she was younger, so taking on the legendary cue artist, even for practice, was a dream. “Sobrang saya dahil syempre 'yon nga po bihira ko lang makalaro si Tatay Efren.”
But if she were starstruck, it certainly didn’t reflect in her game. She faced off against her idol, Rubilen Amit, in the finals of women’s 9-ball pool, before winning the gold in Myanmar.
“Sobrang saya. Hindi ko akalain na ako mag-go-gold, ako ang magcha-champion,” she says.
Two years later in Indonesia, proving her victory was no fluke, Chezka would defeat Rubilen anew for the gold medal in the event.
HER SUCCESS IN BILLIARDS is not just a result of talent. Her preparation involves a lot of work on the mental aspect of the game.
“Para siyang ano, 'yong billiards, para siyang chess. Mag-iisip ng mabuti kung anong pwedeng gawin sa ganoon,” she says. “Practice lang focus. 'Yon lang po.”
With the Philippines hosting the 30th Southeast Asian Games, Chezka has been practicing three hours a day, and includes mental exercises as part of her training.
She admits feeling pressure for the upcoming tournament, especially since it will be the first time that her parents will watch her matches at the SEA Games stage.
“Hindi ko na lang sila papansinin. Focus na lang po ako para hindi po ako ma-pressure sa kanila,” she says.
Her quiet nature belies the intensity and single-mindedness that she possesses. She may have come from humble roots, but she is dreaming of the world.
She wants, for example, to become a Navy officer someday. Having competed in several tournaments in the Philippines and abroad, she is also hungry to compete for the biggest prize.
“Gusto ko pong maging world champion po katulad ni Rubilen Amit. World 9-ball. Ganoon po,” Chezka says.
