Rivera, Posadas rule WCup finals

MANILA, Philippines - Former world champion Biboy Rivera and Apple Posadas, a rising star in the local bowling scene, struck hard at the right time to win the national men’s and ladies’ titles last Saturday and earn trips to the 2010 Quibica AMF World Cup international finals on Oct. 15-24 in Toulon, France.

“I’m happy because it has been my long-time goal to compete in the (World Cup) international finals,” said the 36-year-old Rivera after beating multi-titled Paulo Valdez, 2-0, (243-235, 249-175) in the men’s finals at the Mall of Asia Center in Pasay City.

He added that his BWC outing would serve as a good preparation for his stint in the Asian Games in China.

Posadas, a 24-year-old national bowler like Rivera, was likewise jubilant though a bit sad that she had to earn her first BWC stint at the expense of her younger sister, Lara.

Apple whipped Lara without any trouble, 2-0, (188-157 and 247-177) in the ladies’ finals.

Rivera and Apple Posadas breezed through the last eight games of the tourney with sizzling averages of 233.97 and 212.11, respectively.

Rivera, a businessman and a national player for 11 years who bagged the world title four years ago, submitted a 32-game score of 7487, while Apple carded a 28-game total of 5939.

Valdez nipped Joonee Gatchalian, 2-0 (203-202 and 238-212) while Lara subdued Krizziah Tabora, 2-1 (185-175, 190-199 and 187-178) to advance to the finals.

Two of the favorites and last year’s Philippine representatives to the international finals in Melaka, Malaysia – six-time world champion Paeng Nepomuceno and Liza del Rosario – failed to make it this time after earning slots in the tough eight-game series.

Nepomuceno landed sixth at 7028 while Del Rosario checked in fourth at 5827.

Raoul Miranda was fourth in the men’s division with 7108, followed by Sammy Sy (7076), Nepomuceno, Jeff Carabeo (7019) and Jeremy Posadas (6982).

Rochelle Munsayac came in fifth in the ladies’ group with 5532, followed by Mades Arles (5483), Abbie Gan (5395) and Wanda Teer (5067).