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by Marlon Bernardino
Filipino pool master Rubilen Amit failed to sustain her momentum as she lost to Amber Chen of Taiwan in the finals of the 32nd Japan 9-Ball Open at the New Pier Hall in Tokyo, Japan Monday.
Chen defeated Amit, 7-5, in the race-to-7, rack-your-own finals.
Chen took home the ¥400,000 (Japanese Yen) top prize while Amit settled for ¥200,000 (Japanese Yen).
On the road to the finals, Chen toppled Miyuki Kuribayashi of Japan, 7-4, in the final four duel to arranged a titular showdown with Amit, winner over Angeline Magdalena Ticoalu of Indonesia, 7-3, in the other semifinal match.
Actuallay Amit took a 4-0 commanding lead before Chen came back winning six straight racks to reach the hill,6-4, in this winner's break format. Chen missed an 8-ball shot allowing Amit to close the match at 6-5 count. Amit had opportunity to tie it and break for the deciding game but couldn’t get herself in the 12 racks.
Amit next assignment is the China Open in Shanghai, China on September 1 to 8.
Her campaign in Japan and China would be possible with the support of the Philippine Sports Commission and the Billiard Sports Confederation of the Philippines headed by long-time billiards patron sportsman/businessman Aristeo "Putch" Puyat and DMC Entertainment and Production management boss Jesse Gonzales Cambosa Sr. as part of her preparation in this year's Manila Southeast Asian Games.-Marlon Bernardino