Merwin Tan. Photo from his Facebook account
Merwin Tan, the nation’s bowling marvel, can skip the trials and still banner the team bound for the approaching Vietnam Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) after a superb performance in the World Championships three months ago for the bronze medal-winning Philippine squad netted him an outright slot.
“The coaches recommended Merwin as a sure bet to the coming SEA Games based on his outstanding performance in the worlds and achievements in the last SEA Games,’’ said Philippine Bowling Federation secretary general Bong Coo.
Except for the 22-year-old Tan, the other members of the national squad will go through the local association’s rigid tryouts set Feb. 15 to 19 at the AMF-Puyat Coronado Lanes at Starmall in Mandaluyong City.
Only four men and four women will gain entry to the national lineup for the SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, on May 16-19, where a total of six gold medals in the men and women singles, men and women doubles, and men-women team of four will be contested.
“Right now, I cannot say what our medal target is. We will know once we have formed the team,’’ said Coo, who is expected to submit the lineup to the Philippine Olympic Committee no later than Feb. 20.
Expectations are running high for Filipino keglers to put up a great showing in the SEA Games following their two bronze medals in the 2021 International Bowling Federation Super World Championship last November in Dubai.
Short in 2019
Those pair of bronzes in the men’s and women’s team events ended the 15-year medal drought of the country on the world stage or since Biboy Rivera, who now coaches the team, ruled the masters event in 2006.
Tan joined forces with Kenneth Chua, Patrick Nuqui and Ian Dychangco in the men’s team event while Rachelle Leon and Mades Arles went up the podium with Norel Nuevo and Dubai-based Uella Marcial in the women’s side.
The Filipino keglers were just short of a gold medal in the 2019 SEA Games hosted by the Philippines when Tan, Chua, Nuqui and Frederick Ong wound up with a silver in the men’s team of four.
The PH women’s team of four composed of Alexis Sy, Liza del Rosario, Lara Posadas-Wong and Bea Hernandez placed third.
In the 80s and 90s, Philippine bowling enjoyed tremendous success with a series of victories and championships in the international scene anchored mostly on the exploits of Paeng Nepomuceno and Coo, the Filipino athlete with the record most number of medals won in overseas meets.