Paeng highlights 124th title with perfect game

MANILA, Philippines—Six-time world champion Paeng Nepomuceno reached another milestone in his unprecedented bowling career last Sunday by winning his 124th Masters title in a 49-year span.

Maintaining the form he displayed in 1972 when he recorded his first Masters victory, the 55-year-old Nepomuceno toppled former world titlist and Asian Games gold medalist Biboy Rivera, 2-0 (255-211 and 226-208), to capture the 1st ABC-Boysen Open crown at the E-Lanes Bowling Center in Greenhills, San Juan.

“It feels good to be able to keep with the bowlers much younger than me,” said the lefty Nepomuceno after his well-deserved triumph.

Nepomuceno shot a perfect game 300 in the 12-game Masters eliminations to emerge No. 2 seed in the stepladder finals with a 241 average, behind Rivera, who normed 243.

Third-seeded Frederick Ong, singles gold medalist in the last Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta, scored 232 by beating fourth-rated Paulo Valdez (223) and fifth seed Cesar Muere (185) in the first stepladder match.

Then, Nepomuceno earned a shot at Rivera by subduing Ong, 226-223, in the one-game stepladder tiff.

Rivera hit five big games—a couple of 279s, 258, 247 and 246—in the eliminations, while Nepomuceno fought back with sizzling games of 300, 279, 278, 261, 257, 236 and 234.

So far, Nepomuceno is the only four-time winner of the prestigious World Cup. He is also listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for his dominating performance during his younger days.