Krizziah Tabora with four-time world cup champion and bowling icon Paeng Nepomuceno. Photo by June Navarro
The Philippine bowling team is on a roll.
After Krizziah Lyn Tabora brought the country back to world prominence, the Philippine Bowling Federation (PBF) has earned a stamp of approval from World Bowling (WB), the global governing body in the sport.
National team manager Bong Coo on Friday presented a certification from the world body to the Philippine Sports Commission, recognizing the PBF as a WB member of good standing and fully acknowledged by the Asian Bowling Federation.
With the backing of bowling’s two international federations, the recognition of the Philippine Olympic Committee and the PSC, the leadership conflict that hounded the sport is over after another group earlier claimed as the legitimate local association.
“We can now focus on winning more medals and titles for the country without any distractions,’’ said Coo, a four-time world champion.
The 27-year-old Tabora recently won the 53rd Qubica AMF Bowling World Cup in Hermosillo, Mexico, becoming the third Filipino lady bowler to achieve the feat after Lita Dela Rosa in 1978 and Coo in 1979.
PSC Chair Butch Ramirez said Tabora would receive a hefty cash incentive from the government and increase her P28,000 monthly allowance to Class A status of P40,000.
“Thank you,” said Tabora at the recent PSC-POC Media Group Sports Chat held at the PSC board room inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. “It will inspire me to work harder and hopefully win more medals in future meets.”
Tabora was also part of the women’s team that pocketed a silver medal in the Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, last September.
Philippine bowling is up on its feet after international bowling icon Paeng Nepomuceno, former world champion Biboy Rivera and Coo joined forces to reorganize the PBF headed by its president Steve Hontiveros and secretary general Alex Lim.
The Philippine men’s and women’s teams aim to sustain the string of victories in the world championships in Las Vegas on Nov. 25 to Dec. 4.