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INTERNATIONAL Hall of Famer Bong Coo flashed her old deadly form to
claim the Seniors Masters title in the 37th Philippine International
Open tenpin bowling championships Monday at the SM Bowling
Center-Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
Carrying the colors of MBA/Prima-Timberpro, Coo
shot 2150 in 10 games, including her 8 handicap, to whip plus-16
handicappers Eve Lombos (2125) and Mila Robles (1876) for the title.
Lombos led from the start of the final round
until Coo unleashed a ferocious run of 235, 246, 220, 235 and 202 in
the last five games to cap a 207 scratch average and seal her second
ladies’ senior plum, the first coming in the TBAM Open in March.
“I am grateful to the Lord for giving me the
strength to win again at this stage of my life. This is very special
because it’s my first senior crown in the Philippine International
Open,” said Coo, whose nine Open Masters victories are the most by
any bowler.
Coo is currently the Philippine Bowling
Commission (PBC) secretary-general.
Francis Manalaysay of MTBA-Viking shared the
spotlight with Coo by winning the men’s Senior Masters title in
the tourney organized by PBC.
The top 16 bowlers in the Open Masters finals
will qualify for the 2008 Asian Bowling Federation Tour-Philippine
leg on June 29 also at SM-MOA.
Earl Lim of PBC-RCBC and Merlen Pamintuan of MBA
ruled the men’s and ladies’ Rookie Masters, respectively.
Lim tallied 1951 in 10 games to beat PBA-PJB’s
Paolo Darroca (1930) and MTCBA’s Oliver Mandilag (1897) while
Pamintuan, a protégé of Coo, rallied in the last game to post 1813
and whipped early leader Meann Cabacungan (1798) of PTBA and Jing
Cabangon (1716) of BALP.
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