PH’s Miranda makes top 24 of Shanghai tourney

SHANGHAI—The Philippines’ Raoul Miranda played consistently in the elimination’s last five-game block to finish 17th and make it to the 24-man second round yesterday in the 52nd QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup international finals at Hao’s center here.

Miranda, who boasts a high game of 258, tallied 3999 pinfalls in 20 games for an average of 199.95 that put him in contention in the event that lured national champions from 78 other countries.

The other Filipino campaigner, Lara Posadas, is also shooting for a slot in the second round in the women’s division at presstime.

Posadas was running eighth after 15 games.

China’s Wang Hongbo led the 24-man field with 4247 (212.35 average), followed by Sweden’s Martin Larsen with 4220, Finland’s Petteri Salonen (4177), Russia’s Yan Korshak (4161) and Australia’s Sam Cooley (4154).

The other qualifiers are Rafiq Ismael, Malaysia (4112), Marshall Kent, USA (4107), Anze Grabrijan, Slovenia (4096), Michael Mak, Hong Kong (4057), Mahmood Al Aftar, UAE (4056), David Simard, Canada (4052), Arturs Levikins, Latvia (4048), Hengki, Indonesia (4041), Norman Cai, Singapore (4030), Antonino Fiorentino, Italy (4022), Tobias Boerding, Germany (4010), Miranda, Renan Zoghaib, Brazil (3979), Kert Truus, Estonia (3974), Nico Thienpondt, Netherlands (3972), Jaime Gonzalez, Colombia (3971), Christopher Sloan, Ireland (3958), Peter Stevenson, England (3956) and Emmanuel Buenrostro, Mexico (3932).

The 24 qualifiers will bowl another eight games to determine the top four men who will remain in the race for the BWC international title.

Filipino bowling icon Paeng Nepomuceno holds the distinction of being the only player to win the World Cup crown four times.

Bernice Lim of Singapore is on top of the women’s division with a 4470 total, followed by Danielle McEwan of the US (4345), Nadine Geissler of Germany (4300), Rebecca Whiting of Australia (3212), Lisa John England of (4279), Jenny Wegner of Sweden (3200) and Iliana Lomeli of Mexico (4204).

Defending champion Clara Guerrero of Colombia is in 16th place with 3883.