RP keglers hopeful despite new venue

Despite a sudden change in venue, Filipino bets Sandy Cotoco and Cecilia Yap remain hopeful of their chances in the Asian Bowling Tour 2000 Grand Slam finals, originally set in Parañaque but will now be held in Malaysia.

Citing security and safety of the foreign participants and officials due to the recent bombings that rocked Metro Manila over the weekend, espn star Sports, organizers of the event, has decided to replace Manila as venue of the prestigious event slated Jan. 10-14.

Cotoco and Yap, who topped their respective divisions in the ABT elims in Manila last year, were already looking forward to an explosive showing partly owing to homecourt advantage after the ABT awarded Manila the rights to host the finals of the tough circuit last year. It was originally scheduled to be held at the sprawling Pearl Plaza Bowling Center in Parañaque.

The Philippine Bowling Congress, headed by its president Ric Poblete, was informed of the change in venue yesterday after espn Star Sports sent an urgent fax message to the PBC office inside the Rizal Memorial Complex.

"For the safety of the bowlers and officials concerned, we inform you that the Asian Bowling Tour grand slam finals will no longer be held in the Philippines," said Diana Chan of espn Star Sports Event Management Group.

The event, which attracted bowlers from Malaysia, Thailand, Chinese-Taipei, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines, will now be played at the Pyramid Bowl in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. — Abac Cordero