CHEZKA Centeno remains grateful even after failing to defend her crown at the 2024 WPA World 10-Ball Women's Championship in San Juan, Puerto Rico.Centeno got booted out in the semifinals as she fell to South Korean Seoa Seo, 1-3, on Sunday.Seo lost to the eventual champion Kristina Tckach of Russia in the final, 2-3.'I may not have retained my title, but finishing in the Top 4 is more than I expected, and for that, I am truly grateful,' wrote Centeno in a Facebook post on Monday.The 25-year-old Centeno said she was not in her best condition entering the tournament and somehow the pressure of defending her crown got into her in the semis.'To be honest, I was disappointed with how I performed during that (semis) match. But I wasn't surprised — I came to Puerto Rico knowing I wasn't in my best condition. This year, the World 10-Ball Tournament felt more like a battle with myself,' she said.'After over 15 years of training and dedication to my craft, I approached every game with the prayer to express my skills and love for the game to the fullest. Every match came with a constant mental struggle, questioning whether I could win the next one. The pressure was definitely there as I worked to defend my title.'Centeno, however, takes solace in believing that what's meant for her will gravitate towards her eventually.'While I didn't achieve that this year, I firmly believe that what's truly meant for me will never pass me by, and that belief helps me accept my fate gracefully in every tournament. It's a mindset that has carried me through both victories and challenges.'In a separate post, Centeno also aired her side about her match against compatriot Rubilen Amit in the last 16, where she got 'crucified' by some fans for not being a 'sport.'Amit was called for a foul as she picked a ball up from a side pocket while the cue ball was still rolling following her shot of the 10-ball in the third rack.Leading at 2-0, this gave Centeno a chance to finish the game as the 10-ball was brought back to the table and she did take that shot and won the set.That didn't sit well with some fans who said that she should've intentionally missed the 10-ball to give Amit the chance to finish it since she has practically won the rack already.Centeno explained that intentionally missing a shot could result in a penalty which could cost her the set or the match entirely. However, she did say that it didn't feel right to have won the way she did but she did what he had to do, especially after getting a blessing from Amit herself.'I didn't take any pleasure in winning that way. Some are saying I should've missed the 10-ball as a courtesy; another lady pro mentioned she was surprised when I took the game, and someone even said it was a dirty move. I know it's easy to give opinions and speak as though you're a person of integrity when you're not in that position, but I also don't think it's fair to crucify someone based on this clip without understanding the full context,' said Centeno.'Getting a score that way didn't feel right either, but I made the decision to take that shot because I was afraid of the penalty I could face if the tournament officials determined I intentionally miscued or missed the 10-ball. Penalties can result in the loss of a rack, set, or match, depending on the referee's decision. To be honest, if I were to be penalized for doing what some think I should've done, I don't think I could've handled that well during the match, especially considering this year's format.'
