MANILA, Philippines — Former world champion Rubilen Amit leaned on a strong start before fending off a late comeback by Japan's Keiko Yukawa for an 8-4 victory and a place in the quarterfinals of the Yalin Women's World 10-Ball Championship at Robinsons Galleria.
Amit, who earned an outright place in the Round of 16 after topping Group A, won the first four racks then took 6-1 and 7-2 leads to set up the win over a weary Yukawa who a couple of hours ago dethroned 2010 champion Jasmin Ouschan, 8-7.
However, eagerness to close it out nearly cost Amit. She missed the seven-ball in the ninth rack before bungling what was supposed to be the clinching shot using the bridge in the 11th rack to give Yukawa some breather.
"Naexcite ako masyado," said Amit. "Yung ten ball (sa 11th rack), nawala ako sa focus."
At presstime, Amit is playing Taiwan's Tsai Pei Chen, who defeated China's Dou Dou Zhou, 8-6, in the quarterfinals with the spot in Sunday's semifinals at stake. The Race to 10 finals will likewise be played on Sunday with the champion to receive the top purse of $20,000 (P860,000).
Meanwhile, Iris Ranola, the other Filipino bet in this five-day event, is trailing Taiwan's Hui Shan Lai, 6-3, at presstime with the victor to earn a place in the quarterfinals.
On Friday night, Ranola downed Lai, 6-4, to finish Group B on top with a 3-2 record. That gave her an outright berth in the last 16. Lai secured a rematch with Ranola after eliminating pool legend Allison Fisher of England, 8-4, in the Saturday's first round match.
