R.P. Bowling aims to recapture lost glory
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 29 Oct 2011
Restoring the Philippines? lofty standing in international bowling will be the goal of the new Philippine Bowling Congress under its new president, Ernesto ?Toti? Lopa.
Lopa, who actually had served the PBC presidency in the 70s during which the Filipino pintopplers, led by four-time World Cup champion Paeng Nepomuceno and World Cup and FIQ tltleholders Bong Coo and the late Lita dela Rosa rose to international prominence, himself vowed to pursue this target starting with the coming 26th Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.
?I have long been retired from sports the past 36 years because I thought I have done my part, especially in bowling, but seeing the sport and our bowlers deteriorate like never before, I heeded the call of our sports leaders to once more hold court in the PBC,? the 79-year-old businessman-sportsman said in Friday?s SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session at the Kamayan Restaurant-Padre Faura.
?And where is the best part to start our recovery program but in the SEA Games, considered as the lowest form of multi-event international meet among the region?s finest athletes,? Lopa said during the forum, sponsored by Coca Cola Export, FILA, TV 5 and UNTV.
A combination of battled-scarred internationalists, including three world champions ? Biboy Rivera, Liza Clutario and Liza del Rosario ? have been chosen to make it to the national SEA Games, according to Lopa.
Rivera crowned himself the 2006 FIQ singles world champion, while Liza Clutario and Liza del Rosario were members of the Philippine trio that brought home the 2003 FIQ title.
Four other grizzled veterans ? Frederick Ong, Jeremy Posadas, Benshir Layoso and Raoul Miranda ? will carry the country?s colors in the men?s play along with first timers Carlo Mansilungan and Jong Enriquez.
Posadas? s younger sisters Apple and Lara are joining Del Rosario and Clutario in the distaff side along with Rachelle de Leon. Madoka Amano, Caloy de Leon, Tony Ayson and Rey Reyes will be calling the shots from behind the lanes.
All the seven men and six women pin busters will be entered in the singles, doubles, trios, five-man, five-woman Masters and All Events disciplines, disclosed Rivera, the 2006 FIQ world champion, said. Like the other sports the Filipino athletes are taking part in Indonesia, the Pinoy bowlers, likewise, lack the necessary exposure although Rivera said several of the men?s team members saw action in the Bangkok World Tour early in the year, along with Del Rosario and Clutario.
Despite of the controversies that plagued the PBC and led to Lopa?s come back, Rivera expressed hopes that both the men?s and women?s teams are capable of winning honors for the country.
Rivera, incidentally, will represent the country in the Coming World Cup set in December in Johannesburg, South Africa after surviving the grinding local elimination.
?I am not used to making predictions, but we?ll win some gold, silver and bronze medals, that I can assure,? Rivera said. ?Kilala na naman namin ang aming mga kalaban at kilala na rin nila kami. So, we hope to just depend on these para makapaguwi ng medalya.?
The PSC Bowling Center inside Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, which remained inoperative and unmaintained since strong typhoons hit the city the past two years, forced the teams to hopped in several bowling centers in Metro Manila to train.
Yesterday, after the SCOOP Session, Rivera and company proceeded to Bowing Inn along Taft Avenue where they have been training the past few weeks.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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