Del Rosario, Rivera miss BWC Final 8

LAS VEGAS—The Philippines’ bid to regain glory in the QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup international finals ended in frustration yesterday when Biboy Rivera and Liza del Rosario failed to make it to the men’s and women’s final eight spots at Sam’s Town here.

Former World FIQ winner Rivera gave his best in eight round-robin matches but managed to finish only 10th with 6783 pins after 32 games.

Del Rosario, one of Asia’s top lady pintopplers, also went out of contention in the world’s most prestigious individual kegfest, winding up in 14th spot with 6384 pins after 32 games.

The Philippines has so far captured seven World Cup crowns— four by legendary Paeng Nepomuceno and one each by Lita dela Rosa, Bong Coo and C.J. Suarez.

Nepomuceno’s feat is still unmatched by any World Cup campaigner, man or woman.

South Africa’s Francois Louw and Colombia’s Ciara Guerrero topped the list of the eight men and eight women survivors.

Louw tallied 7130 to finish ahead of Hong Kong’s Siu Hong-wu, who carded 6991.

Guerrero rolled 6901 to pace Mexico’s Sandra Gongoro (6874) in the women’s group.

Other men in Top 8—Paul Stott Jr., Ireland (6903); Alexei Parshukov, Russia (6847); Muhammad Rafiq Ismail, Malaysia (6834); Muhammad Jaris Goh, Singapore (6813), Ryan Leonard Lalisang, Indonesia (6809); Tomoyuki Sasaki, Japan (6808).

Other women in Top 8—United States’ Shannon Pluhowsky, United States, 6869; Maria Bulanova, Russia (6854); Isabelle Hultin, Sweden (6715); Geraldine Ng Su Yi, Singapore (6681); Siti Safiyah Amirah, Malaysia (6673); Sanna Pasanen, Finland (6646).