INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - National bowlers took the spotlight in the 38th Philippine International Open tenpin bowling championships with splendid performances in the trios event Saturday night at Paeng?s Midtown Bowl in Malate, Manila.

Frederick Ong, Raoul Miranda and Jonas Baltasar stole the thunder from their more heralded teammates by rolling a total of 1,229 pinfalls, 16 clear of the squad made up of Biboy Rivera, Chester King and Paulo Valdez.

Young RP women?s players Kim Lao and Rachelle de Leon joined hands with veteran Liza Clutario to lead the women?s trios with 1,097 pinfalls, 14 ahead of Youth team stalwarts Dyan Coronacion, Alexis Sy and Madeline Llamas.

Ong and Miranda, who shone in the Asian championships last year, rolled 426 and 394, respectively, while Baltasar added 409.

Rivera, the Masters winner here in 2006, the same year he took the World Championship in Busan, South Korea, powered the second-running trio with a 432. King, the third member of the winning Asian championship team, scored 396, while Valdez had 385.

Last year?s Masters titlist Benshir Layoso spearheaded the other RP team trios who placed third with 1,169 pinfalls. He tallied 439 to show the way for his young teammates Jeff Carabeo (369) and John Co (361).

Lao chalked up 369, De Leon made 408 and Clutario, Asian Games silver medalist in 2002, notched 320. Coronacion had 399, Sy 300 and Llamas 384.

Defending women?s Masters champion Krizziah Tabora was in the third-running RP squad (1,079) with a 376 output. Apple Posadas added 328 and Liza del Rosario, member of the 2003 world champion trio and three-time Masters champion here, made 375.

Foreign players are expected to arrive next week to vie in the championships.

A prize pot of P2 million is at stake in the 16-day event sponsored by the University of Perpetual Help System, Amway, Chowking, Department of Tourism and Pagcor.