Bowlers to simulate oily conditions

MANILA, Philippines - An oiling machine from the Florida company Kegel is due for delivery any day now and the arrival will allow the Philippine bowling team to simulate lane conditions at the SEA Games in Malaysia on Aug. 19-30.

Lara Posadas, who’s competing in her third SEA Games after 2011 and 2015, said the machine will get the bowlers used to the Malaysian lanes where organizers are expected to alternate the long pattern of 44 feet and the short pattern of 35 feet in the 11 events where gold medals are at stake. The events are singles, doubles, trios, team of five and masters for men and women and mixed doubles. Venue is the Sunway Mega Lanes in Selangor. The Kegel machine is standard equipment in international competitions.

“We’ve bowled at the Sunway before so there won’t be a major adjustment,” said Posadas. “The length of a lane is 60 feet and the oiling pattern will alternate the long and the short. But we need the machine now so we can practice under SEA Games conditions before we leave.”

The hitch is nobody seems to know where the $40,000 machine is or if it has arrived at the ports. Philippine Bowling Federation (PBF) president Steve Hontiveros, who’s out of the country, said he’s not aware of its whereabouts. The other day, PSC chairman Butch Ramirez instructed his procurement officer to track it down. Philippine bowling team head coach Paeng Nepomuceno said he hopes it’s not stuck in some Customs warehouse, bogged down by red tape.  “It’s easy to transport,” said Nepomuceno. “The machine is about 1 1/2 feet high, six feet wide and five feet long. Once it’s delivered to the PSC, we’ll need a permit to bring it to Starmall EDSA where we practice. Our obsolete oiling machine is about 20 years old so it’s time to change.”  

At the previous SEA Games in Singapore, the Philippines brought home only two bowling medals – a bronze in the women’s trios with Posadas, Alexis Sy and Maria Arles and a bronze in the women’s team of five with Posadas, Sy, Arles, Liza Clutario, Liza del Rosario and Krizziah Tabora. “We hope to do better,” said the 27-year-old Posadas. “I like our chances in doubles because it will involve only our top two bowlers unlike in the team of five where you have to get consistently high scores from five players. In the men’s events, Malaysia is favored. In the women’s, Singapore and Malaysia will be tough. A new event is mixed doubles.”

Posadas said the bowlers prepared earlier this year than in 2015. “We all pitched in to pay for two strength and conditioning coaches and we trained in a makeshift gym at (PBF secretary-general) Tito Alex Lim’s building,” she said. “We started training last February, five days a week, three hours a day. In the beginning, it was two days in the gym and three days at the lanes a week. Now that we’re close to the SEA Games, it’s a day in the gym and four days at the lanes. Last May, we were invited by the Korean Bowling Congress to train in Korea for 10 days then we competed at the Philippine International Open. We were sponsored by the PSC to participate in the Singapore Open last June. For 2015, the PSC paid for two or three international exposures and for 2011, it was one or two. Bowling was not played at the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmar.”

Posadas said Nepomuceno has been an inspiration to the bowlers. “We admire his mental toughness, that’s what he’s known for and we’re learning how to focus on being mentally ready,” she said. Nepomuceno, men’s coach Biboy Rivera and women’s coach Jojo Canare will decide which players to enter in the different events a day before the competitions begin. Comprising the men’s team are Anton Alcazaren, Kenneth Chua, Kevin Cu, Jo-Mar Jumapao, John Macatula and Mervin Tan while the women’s team is composed of Arles, Dyan Coronacion, Del Rosario, Posadas, Sy and Tabora.

While there is a history of SEA Games hosts manipulating events and schedules, Posadas said the athletes participate in the spirit of friendship. “The level of competition isn’t as high as in the Asian Games but it’s still a challenge,” she said. “We’re just thankful to be able to represent our country and get the chance to compete.”