Posadas, 3 others gain World singles slots

MANILA, Philippines - World Cupper Lara Posadas and three others topped a 36-game, week-long elimination among national pool members to earn the right to represent the Philippines in the 2016 World Singles Bowling Championships set Dec. 2-9 in Doha, Qatar.

Also making it to the world kegfest are Ivan Dominic Malig, Krizziah Tabora and Raoul Miranda, who is currently playing in the World Cup international finals in Shanghai, China together with Posadas.

Malig topped the men’s elimination with 7,569 pinfalls for an average of 210.53 in 36 games, followed by Miranda with 7,421 (206.14 average).

Posadas ruled the women’s division with 7,074 for an average of 196.50 in 36 games, while Tabora finished second with 7,061 (196.14 average).

Except for youthful Enzo Hernandez, who is studying at the Wichita State University in the United States, 19 bowlers saw action in the eliminations played over different oiling patterns – two long oil, two medium oil and two short oil – at the Coronado Lanes Center and Starmall EDSA in Mandaluyong City.

Four-time World Cup international champion Paeng Nepomuceno, named head coach of the Philippine team by the Philippine Bowling Federation, required all national keglers to vie for the four spots unlike in the past when the country’s representatives were just handpicked.

The Doha competition will be the second WB singles event.  The first was staged in Limassol, Cyprus in 2012.  

The PBF, which replaced the Philippine Bowling Congress, is provisionally headed by long-time sports official Steve Hontiveros. Among the PBF organizers are Nepomuceno, ex-World Cup international titlist Bong Coo and regular sports patron Alex Lim.