Cerdeña gains in World Cup

LISBON - Veteran Filipino bowler Arianne Cerdeña posted a 24-game series of 4794 pinfalls Tuesday to rank 14th and advance to the next round of the 2000 World Cup international finals here.

Cerdeña, 1988 Seoul Olympic gold medalist, averaged 199.8 to easily make the 24-woman cut.

Colombia’s Clara Juliana Guerrero regained top spot with 5332 for a 222.2 average, followed by Australia’s Anee-Maree Putney 5292-220.5), Malaysia’s Shalin Zulkifli (5257-219), Finland’s Heidi Larnia(5,143-214.3) and England’s Kirsten Penny (5078-211.6).

The 24 survivors will play 16 more games, with the top eight,based on their scores including those in the first 24 games, advancing to the quarterfinals.

Other bowlers vying for quarterfinal slots are Laura Rheney, Scotland, 5077; Isabelle Saldjian, France, 5020, Diane Buchanan, Canada, 4989, Mel Isaac, Wales, 4985 and Julieanne Mollet, New Zealand, 4955; and Diandra Hyman, United States, 4923.

Jesmine Ho, Singapore, 4817; Nachimi Itakura, Japan, 4785; Sarit Mizrahi, Israel, 4785; Motte Hanson, Norway, 4776; Su-Fen Tsang, Chinese Taipei, 4762; Sue Abela, Malta, 4749; Doris Szvanztics, Austria, 4707; Martina Beckel, Germany, 4707; Serafina Lluzi, Italy, 4689; Farida Pascoal-Blom, Netherlands, 4679; and Ingellmar Contreras, Venezuela, 4673.

Forty-three other lady bowlers fell by the wayside in the tourney sponsored by AMF Bowling, the largest owner and operator of bowling centers in the world.

Meanwhile, Sweden’s Thomas Leandersson rolled the first perfect game of the tourney Tuesday afternoon. Minutes later, the Swede’s long-time rival, Tore Torgersen of Norway, answered the challenge with his own 300.

Before shooting the 300, Leandersson tallied a 299, leaving only a 2-pin standing.

Leandersson’s 300 game is the 11th and Torgersen’s the 12th rolled in the World Cup since the tourney began in 1965. Canada’s Jack Guay recorded the first perfect game in 1994 in Hermosillo, Mexico.