Bautista, Del Rosario head WC final cast

MANILA, Philippines - Sixteen of the country’s leading bowlers, led by former Asian Games gold medalist RJ Bautista and veteran international campaigner Liza del Rosario, dispute the Bowling World Cup national championship at SM Bowling North EDSA today with no less than a stint in Poland at stake.

The men’s and ladies’ champions will represent the Philippines in the 2012 BWC international finals scheduled on Nov. 24 to Dec. 2 at Sky Bowling Centre in Wroclaw, Poland.

Bautista rolled a 24-game series of 5269 pinfalls to pace seven others into the men’s quarterfinals while Del Rosario recorded 4174 pins in 20 games to show the way in the ladies’ division.

The other bowlers who are competing today follow:

Men – J. Em Ang, 5193; Chester King, 5159; Richie Poblete, 5080; Jeff Carabeo, 4999; JP Posadas, 4983; Jay Ar Tan, 4954; and Alex Ngoi, 4932.

Ladies – Krizziah Tabora, 4052; Mades Arles, 4015; Rachelle Leon, 3881; Lara Posadas, 3867; Apple Posadas, 3821; Lovella Catalan, 3798; and Abbie Gan, 3731.

With their scores carried over, the quarterfinalists will bowl another eight games each with lane changes in every game to determine the top three finishers based on total pinfalls. The top three will then figure in head-to-head, best 2-of-3 matches in the semifinal and final rounds.

The second and third finishers will square off first, with the winner advancing to the finals against the topnotcher in the quarterfinals.

Six-time world champion and the only bowler who has won four World Cup titles – Paeng Nepomuceno – failed to compete this year because he’s in the United States undergoing an advance coaching course.