Male keglers’ turn to strike gold

KUALA LUMPUR (Via Globe Telecoms) — The Philippine men’s bowlers finally emerged from the shadow of their women’s teammates, making big news for the RP delegation in SEA Games hostilities over in Penang yesterday by winning the trios event in a record-smashing performance.

Botchok Rey, Chester King and CJ Suarez combined for 3,941 pinfalls to erase the old mark of 3,822 set by the Malaysians in the Brunei Games.

Rey rolled a six-game series of 1,398, Suarez 1,296 and King 1,247 as the RP Trio took the gold with a 213-pinfall win over second placer Malaysia and second runner-up Singapore.

Liza Clutario, Maria Liza del Rosario and Ma. Cecilia Yap bungled a chance to win the gold but continued to produce for the crack 12-man RP bowling team by salvaging the silver.

Clutario, Del Rosario and Yap showed the way after the fourth game but couldn’t match the Malaysian’s strong two-game finish, allowing the host team to snatch the gold.

The Malaysians totaled 3,743 to the Philippines’ 3,614. After four games, the Philippines had been on top with 2,447 followed by Thailand with 2,428, Singapore 2,424 and Malaysia 2,419. The Malaysians made 650 and 697 in the last two games.

The RP ladies had produced a gold through the doubles team, silver courtesy of Cecilia Yap in singles and bronze through the efforts of Irene Garcia also in the singles.

"The desire to contribute (to the RP cause) fired up our bowlers to give their best today," said RP team coach Johnson Cheng.

Proving to be the steadiest men’s bowler, Rey led the all events with 4,013 after the trios. Malaysia’s Ben Heng Boon Hian and Zulkifli Zul Mazran were at second and third with 3,935 and 3,865 followed by Suarez with 3,788.