FILIPINA cue artist Chezka Centeno advanced to the Las Vegas Women’s Open semifinals after defeating Austrian Jasmin Ouschan, 2-1, in the quarterfinals in the United States early Monday in Manila.
Centeno won the 2-hour and 57-minute 10-ball match through a shootout with scores of 4-2, 2-4, 3-3, and 4-3.
“I was just lucky,” said Centeno in the post-match interview.
“I didn’t know there were many balls. I’m happy and lucky because I made it to the semifinals.”
The reigning 10-ball world champ was set to face Bulgarian Kristina Zlateva in the semifinal early Tuesday.
“I just need to sleep and stay focused, that’s it... and practice,” said Centeno.
Zlateva dispatched American Sofia Mast to make the last four, which also features a battle between Taiwanese Wei Tzu-Chien and Russian Kristina Tkach.
It’s been a perfect run for Centeno so far, winning five matches in a row.
The 26-year-old started her campaign with a 2-0 win over American Eva Myers and a 2-0 triumph against another American, Ashley Benoit.
Centeno then dropped Japanese Chihiro Kawahara, 2-1, in the winners qualification round and American Kennedy Meyman, 2-0, in the last sixteen before topping Ouschan in the quarters.
Another decorated Pinay cue artist Rubilen Amit also competed in the tournament but did not make the last sixteen.
Amit fell to Taiwanese Chen Chia Hua in the losers round 2, 1-2.