By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Jeff De Luna settled for a share of third place in the men’s division of the Asian 10-Ball Championships after losing in the semifinals on Wednesday, Dec. 18, in Doha, Qatar.
The 40-year-old veteran cue artist yielded to Chinese Taipei’s Chang Jung-Lin, 9-8, in a match that could have gone either way.
Chang eventually captured the title on the same day by trouncing Dang Jinhu of China, 11-6, in the 64-player tournament. Dang earlier clipped Ameer Ali of Iraq, 9-6, for a spot in the finals.
Overall, it was an impressive run for De Luna, who was gunning for a second title after winning The Cue International 10-Ball Open in Indonesia this year.
Prior to his semis defeat, De Luna defeated compatriot Kyle Amoroto, 9-6, in the quarters, and Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Chia Chen, 9-6, in the Last 16.
In women’s side, two-time world 10-ball champion Rubilen Amit and 2023 world 10-ball winner Chezka Centeno barged into the Last 16 following back-to-back victories also on Wednesday.
Amit first blanked Rana Nasserddine of Lebanon, 5-0, then routed Singapore’s Anran Yu, 5-2, while Centeno downed South Korea’s Lee Harin, 5-3, and China’s Fu Xiaofang, 5-1, to advance.
The triumph arranged Amit a meeting with Indonesia’s Annabella Putri Yohana, who rose from the losers’ qualification with a 5-3 win over Fatemeh Homanyoon of Iran.
Centeno, for her part, set up a rematch with Lee, who also came from the losers’ bracket with a close 5-4 win over Taiwanese Wang Ling Wang.
