Suarez, Canare edge closer to WC plums

TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS – CJ Suarez and Jojo Canare, Filipino bowlers whose previous biggest accomplishments were silver-medal finishes in the Asian Games, are now heartbeats away from winning the most precious mint in the AMF Bowling World Cup.

Suarez and Canare pulled off contrasting wins over Belgium’s Chris Van Damme and Malaysia wonder Shalin Zulkifli, respectively, Friday to earn spots in the semifinal round of the prestigious event being held at the Planeta Sipango bowling center here.

Suarez, the 24-year-old double-gold medallist in the 2001 Malaysian SEA Games, disposed of Damme in a low-scoring affair, two games to zero (196-195, 183-140).

The 34-year-old Canare, meanwhile, had to bowl steady for three games as she bucked the odds in a 223-223 (47-49), 217-195, 257-207 upset of the highly regarded Zulkifli — a Busan Asian Games gold medallist and recent winner of the Aviva Asian Bowling Tour grand slam finals.

Canare’s 257 in the third game, incidentally, was the highest made in the women’s quarterfinal round.

With their respective victories, Suarez and Canare stayed in line to possibly duplicate the feats done by Paeng Nepomuceno and Lita dela Rosa in this bowling spectacle.

However, both Suarez and Canare will have to yank Finnish Mika Luoto and American Shannon Pluhowsky off their throne in the semifinals to get a shot at the crown.

If Suarez and Canare survive the reigning champions, their likely opponents in the finals are top seed Marie Ramirez of Costa Rica and Bill Hoffman of the United States.

The semis will be played Saturday morning and the finals in the afternoon.

Ramirez defeated the 1992 women’s champion Martina Beckel of Germany in a three-game match. After dropping the opening game, 205-215, the Costa Rican player roared back in the second game, 234-156, and then squeaked past Beckel in the decider, 207-202.

Ramirez faces Kerrie Ryan-Ciach of Canada in the other semifinal pairing. Ryan-Ciach defeated Mexico’s Tere Piccini Healey, two games to one (240-223, 204-215, 220-193).

Pluhowsky advanced by defeating Australia’s Ann Maree Putney, two-zero (256-216, 227-221).

Hoffman took France’s Mickel Rives down in two games, 242-217 and 227-207.

"I’m dedicating this tournament to my coach, Fred Borden, who is retiring after this tournament, and to Special Olympics," Hoffman said. "One of the volunteers has a daughter who is autistic, and she’s been here watching us every single day."

Luoto earned a semifinal berth by defeating 1988 champion Mohammed Al-Qubaisi of the UAE, 2-1 (192-216, 266-212, 234-224). Luoto goes head to head against C.J. Suarez of the Philippines in the men’s first semifinal match.

Hoffman goes against Marcel van den Bosch of the Netherlands, who upset 1994 champion Tore Torgersen of Norway, 2-1 (200-205, 258-233, 234-215).