Biboy, Liza stay in World Cup hunt

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Philippine champions Biboy Rivera and Liza del Rosario played well enough in eight games to stay in position to make the 24-man cut in the men’s and women’s divisions of the 51st Qubica AMF Bowling World Cup international finals yesterday at Sam’s Town, Las Vegas here.

Rivera, a former World FIQ titlist, is in ninth place with 3459 pinfalls while Del Rosario, considered one of Asia’s best, is in 16th place with 3228.

The two, as well as the rest of the campaigners in the world’s toughest individual kegfest, will play another games to determine who will make it to the top 24 in the men’s and women’s divisions.

Sandra Gongora of Mexico rolled the day’s high set of 1794 but it was only good for second place in the women’s competition with 3481, 22 pins behind new leader, two-time champion Shannon Pluhowsky of the United States, who posted 3559.

Isabelle Hultin of Sweden is now third on 3444, Malaysia’s Siti Safiyah Amirah is fourth and defending champion Carla Guerrero of Colombia is fifth.

Overnight leader Aumi Guerra of Dominican Republic, after what she described as an awful day, dropped to 11th spot.

Singapore’s Muhammad Jaris Goh held on to the men’s lead after 16 games but he had to work hard to score 1746 for a 3601 total, 16 pins ahead of 17-year-old student Kamron Doyle of the US, with Alexei Parshukov of Russia in third, just two pins behind Kamron.

Only two players hit over 1800 – Alexei and Hong Kong’s Siu Hong Wu, who is now in eighth place.

Mohamed Al Saud, a prince of the Saudi royal family, shot the day’s high game of 277.

The final eight-game qualifying series will be played Wednesday. UAE’s Shaker Ali Al Hassan is in 24th place but Germany’s Sven Garbotz is just six pins behind in 25th.