16 bowlers target WC nat’l titles, Vegas trip

Sixteen bowlers—eight men and eight ladies—shoot today for the World Cup national titles and the right to represent the Philippines in the 51st BWC international finals on Nov. 13 to 20, this year at Sam’s Town in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Led by youthful campaigners Kenneth Chua and Krizziah Tabora, the remaining aspirants from a field of 120 national finalists carry their scores as they bowl at SM North Edsa’s center in a one round-robin format and positioning on the eighth game. The winners get 30 points and 15 each for a tie to determine the top three who will advance to the semifinal and final matches.

Chua, Asian Youth Masters champion in Egypt in 2012, finished with 5495 pinfalls after 24 games to emerge No. 1 among the men’s contenders.

Former FIQ world titlist Biboy Rivera checked in No. 2 with 5436 after shooting two 300 and one 299 games last Monday at Superbowl, followed by Nicco Olaivar with (5086), Kevin Cu (5075), Enzo Hernandez (4998), Benshir Layoso (4994), Carl Matthew Lim (4959) and six-time world champion Paeng Nepomuceno (4913).

Tabora, the country’s entry in the 2012 BWC international finals in Wroclaw, Poland, together with RJ Bautista, paced seven others who are still in the hunt for the ladies’ crown with a 20-game series of 4201 pins.

Alexis Sy came in second with 4169, followed by Liza Clutario (4113), Lara Posadas (4017), Liza del Rosario (3962), Anne Marie Kiac (3883), Myrna Bautista (3631) and Abbie Gan (3605).

Chua, who led Layoso by 237 pins after the first day of competition at Paeng’s Midtown Bowl, kept his edge after last Monday’s second 12-game series by shooting 279, 248, 244, 239, 235, 228, 225 and 224 games.

Rivera sizzled with two 300s in the 18th and 21st games and a 299 in the 24th game.  He also posted scores of 259, 257, 253, 247, 245 and 224.

Nepomuceno started well with 243, but he cooled off after that and managed to score only six other 200s—245, 226, 212, 212, 205 and 204.

Tabora held off Sy with big games of 280, 249, 248, 234, 223, 222 and 201.  Sy also had big games of 264, 258, 244, 243, 233, 226, 224, 219 and 200.