Amit, Ranola gain KO stage

By JONAS TERRADO

Rubilen Amit and Iris Ranola endured contrasting fortunes to enter the knockout stage of the WPA Women’s World 9-Ball Championship in Shenyang, China.

Amit weathered the challenge of Japanese Junko Tsuchiya for a 7-6 win on Monday night while Ranola went through the loser’s bracket before posting a similar 7-6 victory opposite Singaporean Charlene Huey yesterday.

Both cue artists made it to the Round-of-32 of the week-long tournament.

Amit and the always-smiling Ranola are playing yesterday with their opponents at presstime.

It was the second hill-hill affair for Amit, who opened her campaign with a 7-6 triumph past Chinese Zhiting Wu on Monday.

While Amit went unbeaten in the group stage, Ranola had to pull herself out of the rug to squeeze into the next round.

After a 7-4 victory over South African Nacola Rossouw, Ranola absorbed a sound 7-1 beating at the hands of the diminutive Han Yu of host China late Monday.

But Ranola, a double gold medalist in the 2011 Palembang SEA Games, was able to bounce back the following day by defeating the stubborn Huey in their do-ordie match.