Rivera leads bowl World Cup finalists

MANILA, Philippines - Former world champion Biboy Rivera flashed his old form to lead the second batch of finalists in the 2014 Bowling World Cup national championships recently.

Rivera, who had previously appeared in two BWC international finals, capped his 2800 12-game series with a perfect 300 in the ninth game, to wind up as the second best qualifier in the second and last qualifying period.

Only Jason Tubid, with 2819, did better than Rivera, who finished third in his first BWC international appearance in 2010 in Toulouse, France.  Rivera also made it to the international finals in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2011.

Other well-known qualifiers for the national finals after the second qualifying period were Liza Clutario, Liza del Rosario, Krizziah Tabora,  Mades Arles, Lara Posadas, Benshir Layoso and Jeff Carabeo.

Arles and Layoso carried the Philippine colors in last year’s imternational finals in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.  Arles wound up in eighth place in the women’s division while Layoso finished 17th.

Del Rosario, considered the country’s top female bowler today, rolled 1883 while Clutario, who saw action with Rivera in Johannesburg, tallied a 1928 series in 10 games, both at Paeng’s Midtown.

The national finals will be held on Aug. 16-17 at Coronado Lanes, August 19-20 at Paeng’s Midtown and Aug. 22 at SM North EDSA.

The men’s and women’s champions will represent the Philippines in the international finals on Nov. 1-9 at Sky Bowling Centre in Wroclaw, Poland.