INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - Veterans Chester King and Liza del Rosario shook up the standings on Monday night as they came up with big games to wrest the lead in the 38th Philippine International Open Tenpin Bowling Championships at Paeng?s Midtown Bowl at Robinsons Ermita in Malate, Manila.

King of TBAM-Prima-RP tallied lines of 213, 210 and 262 for a pacesetting 685 in the Class O men?s singles, two pins clear of 17-year-old junior bowler Jeff Chan.

Kenneth Chua retained third place with 679.

In the Class O women?s singles, Del Rosario, the 2007 RP Open women?s Masters winner, carded 234, 209 and 214 for 657 to dislodge fellow national team member Apple Posadas (649) from the top spot. Defending Ladies? Masters champion Krizziah Tabora was third with 624.

King and fellow 2008 Asian championships gold medalists Raoul Miranda and Frederick Ong then assembled 1,333 to seize the Class O trios lead from Biboy Rivera, Jonas Baltasar and Paulo Valdez (1,251).

The tournament offers over P2 million in prizes, including a four-year scholarship grant worth P250,000 courtesy of Perpetual Help, to the first bowler who will score a perfect game.

The same scholarships are at stake for local topnotchers in the men?s and women?s Open contests, according to PBC president Mariano Tamayo.

The Chowking King of the Lanes Perfect Game award of P50,000 is likewise up for grabs in the 16-day kegfest sanctioned by the World Tenpin Bowling Association and the Asian Bowling Federation.