MANILA, Philippines — Filipino cue artist Chezka Centeno settled for a runner-up finish after falling to Taiwanese Wei Tzu-Chien, 0-2, in the Las Vegas Women's Open final in the United States Tuesday morning in Manila.
Both sets ended in a hill-hill finish with Centeno yielding at 3-4, 3-4, in the 10-ball match that lasted for one hour and 46 minutes.
Centeno earned $15,570 or P908,000 for her second-place finish, while Wei bagged the top prize of $27,000 or P1.5 million.
"I didn’t get the title this time, and yes, that stings," wrote Centeno in a Facebook post, reflecting on her tournament performance.
"It wasn’t my sharpest performance. I wasn’t at my absolute best this week. But even on the days when I don’t feel unstoppable, I still choose to show up for myself and for the people who believe in me. And by God’s grace, I was still there on the last day. Still standing. Still fighting."
Centeno was on an unbeaten run before the final, winning six 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.
Centeno went on to dispatch Austrian Jasmin Ouschan, 2-1, in the quarterfinals before taking down Bulgarian Kristina Zlateva in the semis, 2-0.
"Of course it would have been amazing to win the Las Vegas Women’s Open again. But I’m learning not to be too hard on myself," Centeno added in her post.
"I’m choosing to see the good and trust that what’s meant for me will never pass me. Every tournament teaches me something, and losses are part of the journey too."
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.