INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - Homegrown bet Raoul Miranda and Malaysia’s Fatin Syazliana ruled the Open Masters divisions Sunday night at the close of the 38th Philippine International Open tenpin bowling championships at Paeng’s Midtown Bowl at Robinsons Place in Malate, Manila.

Miranda and Syazliana both overcame the twice-to-beat advantage of their rivals with Miranda topping American Tim Mack in the men’s finals and the Malaysian spoiling an RP victory double by rolling back Liza del Rosario.

A grievous Mack error in the 10th frame allowed Miranda to salvage the first game, 188-187, before the Filipino outplayed the elimination-round topnotcher in the decider, 226-188, to clinch the biggest win of his career.

“I feel fortunate with that break (in the 10th frame),” said Miranda, who pocketed the P250,000 top purse.

“I made up my mind not to waste the opportunity in the second match,” added Miranda, a singles bronze medalist in last year’s Asian championships.

The 39-year-old Mack needed just nine pins in the 10th frame of the first game to wrap up the title, but he toppled only seven.

“I had a mental lapse in the 10th frame. I gave it way,” rued Mack, who later claimed he was distracted by the noisy gallery behind him. “It doesn’t matter who won. I expected more courtesy (from the crowd).”

Syazliana, a 19-year-old upstart from Penang, produced her finest game in the finals, beating the fancied Del Rosario, 213-193 and 206-202, to take home P100,000.

Del Rosario, who was looking to increase her RP Open title haul to four, actually had a golden opportunity to win the crown, taking the lead heading into the final two frames of the second game.

But the Malaysian showed poise under pressure while Del Rosario, needing a double, wilted with only a spare to miss the crown she last won in 2007.

Philippine Bowling Congress president Marianito Tamayo praised Miranda and Del Rosario.

“Their performances here showed that we still rank among the world’s best,” said Tamayo.

Mack settled for the runner-up purse of P100,000 in the event sponsored by University of Perpetual Help System, Department of Tourism, Amway Philippines and the Philippine Sports Commission, Chowking, Colgate-Palmolive, The City Bowling Shop, USAct, Pearl Garden Hotel, Nestle Philippines, Paeng’s Midtown Bowl, Goldbridge Dental Services and Pan Pacific Manila, the tournament’s official hotel.

LCTBA’s Bernie Fontanilla bowled a 10-game series of 2,019 to rule the men’s associate Masters, while TBAM’s Dina Granada ruled the distaff side with 1,864.