Canare rolls perfect game, wins World Cup slot

Asian Games-bound Jojo Canare capped a spectacular matchplay performance Friday by shooting a perfect game 300 at Power Bowl to beat upcoming Ellen Ramos and earn the right to represent the Philippines in the 38th Bowling world Cup international finals in Riga, Latvia.

"I feel so happy and excited," the 33-year-old Canare, a veteran member of the Philippine team to the Busan Asian Games, said after turning back Ramos, 2-1 (233-257, 214-190, 300-204), in the best-of-three ladies’ finals of the national World Cup competition organized by AMF Sports.

It was actually Canare’s third career 300 in 14 years. Her first two came in the Sta. Lucia East Open and the center finals of a similar national World Cup event.

C. J. Suarez, a national bowler like Canare, earned his second trip to the World Cup international finals by whipping another fresh face in local bowling, Gene Tonolete, in the men’s finals.

The 23-year-old Suarez, who first saw action in the World Cup international finals two years ago in Lisbon, was simply too much for Tonolete in the third game, winning 246-192, after they had split the first two.

"This time I’m confident of improving on my (21st place) finish in Lisbon," said Suarez, who downed Tonolete, 216-204, in the first game but dropped the second, 281-245, to force the extension.

The top two qualifiers who were favored to earn the Latvia trip – national bowlers Liza del Rosario and Chester King – failed to live up to expectations.