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By Emil Noguera, Correspondent
The Philippine Bowling Congress (PBC) named 22 athletes in the
national team who will don the national colors in several
international tournaments this year.
PBC Secretary-General Bong Coo said the team is
a combination of veteran and neophyte keglers who stood up in a
series of tryouts held late last year in different venues.
Former world champion Biboy Rivera banners the
men’s squad along with Chester King, Paulo Valdez, Raoul Miranda,
Frederick Ong, Benshir Layoso, Jonas Baltazar, John Co, Jeff
Carabeo, Jehr Cabangon and Louie Chuaquico.
Leading the women’s squad are 2002 Busan Asian
Games silver medalists Liza del Rosario and Liza Clutario. Other
members of the team are Kim Lao, Krizziah Tabora, Apple Posadas,
Alexis Sy, Dyan Coronacion, Mades Arles, Rachael de Leon, Lingling
de Guzman and Bettina Formoso.
“We are aiming to compete in the United
States, Europe and Middle East against some of the world’s best.
But our participation still depends on the budget of the Philippine
Sports Commission,” said Coo, a world champion herself.
The national keglers are scheduled to compete in
Asian Bowling Federation Tour, which will be held in separate
venues, First Asian Youth Games in Singapore from June 28 to July 7,
World Games Bowling Championship in Taiwan from July 16 to 26, and
the Southeast Asian Games in Laos in December.
The ladies team will also see action in the
prestigious World Women’s Championship in Las Vegas from July 24
to August 2.
“We want to participate in as many tournaments
as possible to upgrade our standard,” added Coo.
Bowling has been a constant producer of world
champions including six-time titlist and Guinness Book of World
Record holder Rafael “Paeng” Nepomuceno and 2006 world champion
Christian Jan Suarez.
Last year, the men’s trio team composed of
King, Miranda and Ong bagged the gold medal in the Asian
Championships. Ong also won the All Events gold.
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