Positive thinking pushes young Tan to boys crown

Positive thoughts have brought positive results for national pool regular Merwin Tan. Saturday afternoon was no exception.

The 18-year-old from TBAM Prima pieced together a combined series of 1742 during the eighth and final round to rule the youth boys division of the PBF Pagcor Philippine International Open.

“There’s no other rival in this sport but yourself. I eliminate the pressure by thinking positive thoughts,” said Tan, the second youngest member of the PH squad after 17-year-old Kenzo Umali.

“It paid off because this strategy has made me calm,” added Tan of Marist School, thanking his grandfather and coach Mersol Tan for the effective mindset.

Ivan Malig, last year’s champion, and Gospel Gahol of Novoland made it an all-Filipino podium finish after placing second (1728) and third (1681), respectively.

The next assignment for Tan will be a tough challenge in the men’s open division, where he qualified with defending champion Kenneth Chua and elite bowlers Jomar Jumapao, Kenzo Umali, JP Macatula and Paolo Valdez for the finals.

They will meet the top six foreign bowlers led by Australia’s Sam Cooley, reigning men’s trios world champion Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong and six-time Asian Bowling Federation Tour champ Hussain Alwusaidi of United Arab Emirates in the finale late Sunday evening.

On the women’s side, World Cup champion Krizziah Lyn Tabora is the bowler to watch after she rolled the highest series of 812 yesterday and broke into the 1600 column.