Veterans Amit, De Luna rule 9-ball billiards events of National Games

Former World 10-ball champion Rubilen Amit and Doha Asian Games silver medalist Jeffrey de Luna crowned themselves champions of the 9-ball singles event in the 2011 Philippine Olympic Committee (POC)-Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) National Games held at the Gaisano City Mall in Bacolod City late Friday night. The 29-year-old Amit, a three-time Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) champion in 9-ball, scored an 11-7 win over fellow national team member Mary Ann Basas in the women’s finals. "Ongoing po kasi 'yung trials naming for the national team para sa SEA Games sa Manila kaya sanay na kaming kami-kami ang naglalaban-laban," said the Cebu City native Amit, who also won the women's 8-ball gold in the 2005 and 2009 SEA Games. Amit, who coasted to a 9-4 victory against 11-year-old sensation Cheska Centeno in the semifinals of the winner’s bracket, said she was pressured to win in her first Philippine National Games. "Nung pumunta kami dito hindi ko alam kung ano ba talaga ang ini-expect ko. Pero siyempre masaya kasi it's still a major local title for me," Amit said. In the men's division, de Luna pulled off an 11-8 triumph against Davao City bet Delfin Tugado in the finals. Tugado stunned national team mainstay Ramil Gallego in the semifinals to earn the right of facing de Luna in the gold medal match. "Me potential po 'yung nakalaban ni Kuya Jeff kasi iba 'yung composure niya," said Amit of Tugado. She also praised Centeno and predicted that the young cue artist is a world champion in the making. In women's tennis, Clarrisse Patrimonio scored a 6-4, 6-2 upset of tournament top seed Christine to clinch the singles gold. The second-seeded Clarisse, 134th in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) junior rankings, dominated her older sister in the battle of strong baseline players. This is also Clarisse's second straight win against Christine in a finals match. She also added the women's doubles gold when she teamed up with Christine in beating Tamitha Olivarez-Nguyen and Marian Capadocia, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 in the finals. National team members ruled the soft tennis with Joseph Arcilla and Noelle Conchita Zoleta clinching the men's and women's gold. Arcilla defeated younger brother Jhomar Arcilla for the gold, while fellow nationals Samuel Noguit and Giovanni Mamawal settled for the bronze. Zoleta beat Divina Escala in the women's finals, while teammates Jospehine Paguyo and Edrilyn Peralta went home with the bronze. – JVP, GMA News