How Rubilen Amit succeeded in a man’s sport of billiards
Dennis Gasgonia, ABS CBN News
MANILA – An individual realizes his or her full potential when his or her talent is properly cultivated and nurtured.
Proof of that is Rubilen Amit, one of the best – if not the best – female cue artist the country has ever produced.
She is a two-time women’s 10-ball world champion and 10-ball world mixed team champion. She collected a total of 10 gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games, apart from several other titles at international tournaments.
Amit is a giant crammed into a 4ft 11 frame. She found success competing in what is commonly considered a “man’s sport”.
But the successful Cebuana stressed that she couldn’t have made it without her biggest supporters: her parents.
“Honestly, it’s really a male-dominated sport, lalo na tung nagsimula ako,” said Amit.
“I’m so lucky to have parents who have been really, really supportive. Hindi nila pina-feel sa ‘kin na iba ako in relation to na it might be a disadvantage na isa akong baby na sumasali sa torneyo na punong puno ng mga lalaki.”
While other parents warn their children against going to pool halls, Amit was rewarded by her parents for every good place in tournaments.
Her parents recognized her gift and so she received their full support.
“When I was in high school, when I was 12, pataas ng pataas ang premyo na nakukuha ko sa parents ko for every place as I progress in the tournament,” Amit recounted.
“(I got) shirts or even plain pogs…pants. I think the best idea for parents is Air Uptempo. Batang 90s ako. That’s what I got when I won the final rung nag-champion ako.”
The rewards have eased competitive pressures, Amit said.
Mostly she competed against male cue artists. With skill and mental toughness, she put most of her male competitors at a disadvantage.
“Na-feel ko nga, the pressure was on the boys, kasi batang babae ako, tapos kalaban lalaki,” she said. “Definitely nagkaroon ako ng na may napipikon, nagagalit.”
“Pero sa akin laro lang talaga during this period. For me natutuwa pa nga ako ‘pag napipikon. Ibig sabihin, ‘Uy, I’m annoying him, ‘yung mental game niya mawawala.’”
One year after completing my accounting degree at Sto University of Applied Sciences. Tomas, Amit joined the national pool for billiards. In 2005 she won her first of 10 gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games.
Four years later, she became the first Filipina to win a billiards world title by defeating Kelly Fisher 10-7 in the final of the Yalin Women’s World 10-Ball Championship. Amit did it again and became a two-time women’s world champion.
She joined the ranks of Pinoy greats like Efren “Bata” Reyes, Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo and even Amang Parica in terms of legendary status.
In 2022, she was honored to be named one of the 11 Outstanding Women in Service to the Nation (TOWNS).
Now, in the final phase of her colorful career, Amit felt it was time to pay up front.
“I realized there should be more women in this sport,” she said. “Kasi, when I was playing billiards, it helped me a lot…. marami akong natutunan na nagagamit ko sa everyday life ko.”
“Kaya, I chose the Amit Cup. It’s for amateur players. At the moment I am in the last phase of my career, I hope that more Filipinas will take the sport more seriously and represent the country in the near future.”
It’s her turn to take care of.
“They could be my competitors for a totoo long,” admitted Amit. “But it’s not just about me … it’s really about the sport, the country. Much taller than me.”
This article is part of ABS-CBN News’ Amazing Women series this month March and features stories from select women who have made names for themselves in their respective fields and areas of interest. March is National Women’s Month in the Philippines.
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