Cue artist Chezka Centeno had the golden chance to bag the country’s first gold medal in the Chengdu World Games, but a costly mistake denied her the glory.
Chezka Centeno came tantalizingly close to taking the Philippines' first gold medal in the Chengdu World Games in China, as she competed in the final of the women’s 10-ball event against home bet Yu Han on Wednesday night at the Civil Aviation Flight University of China - Tianfu Campus Gymnasium.
After clawing back from a 0-3 deficit, Centeno committed a crucial scratch on a safety play for the first ball that doomed her bid for the top step of the podium.
Centeno opened the door for Han to claim the victory, as the Chinese beat her Filipino rival, 7-6.
After the match, Centeno remained upbeat despite the loss as she competed in her second World Games.
"I did not expect that mistake. But I'm still happy," Centeno said.
"This medal is for our country. I hope I still made you all proud," she added.
Centeno is the third medalist for Team Philippines in this edition after Kaila Napolis’ silver in jiu-jitsu and Carlos Baylon Jr.’s bronze in Wushu.
Heading into the finals, the billiards player beat Han’s compatriot Shasha Liu in the semifinals earlier on Wednesday.
Among those also in the running for another medal in Chengdu is Olympic boxer Hergie Bacyadan.
After falling in the semifinals against Catarina Dias, Bacyadan still has the chance to claim the bronze when the Filipino pug faces Serbia’s Aleksandra Krstic.
Bacyadan vies for the bronze medal on Thursday, August 14.