Del Rosario, Canare lead cast in World Cup finals

Asia’s top lady bowler Liza del Rosario and defending champion Jojo Canare will lead 79 other players competing in the 2004 World Cup national ladies’ finals beginning Thursday at Starlanes along EDSA.

The 81 lady finalists will play 10 games starting at 11 a.m. with the top 28 advancing to the next round set Oct. 18 at SM Megamall.

With their scores carried over, the remaining 28 will bowl an additional 10 games to determine the top eight who will play head-to-head matches starting in the quarterfinals until the finals on Oct. 20 at Paeng’s Eastwood Bowl.

The other contenders are Mina Soria, Elaine Florencio, Lilian Teano, Ellen Ramos, Jane Alvarez, Ria Loresca, Alice Bautista, Ayel Reyes, Nette Sosa, Avic Villarama, Becky Ramirez, Annie Licarte, Yuyek Chavez, Rosie Duque, Cecille Cuesta, Sunshine Rodriguez, Apple Posadas, Juanita Li, Flora Briones, Jingay Facuri, Lorey Chan, Marie Garma, Cynthia Gutierrez, Jin Cabangon, Nida Lagrisola, Meriam Garcia, Ivy Porcia, Maricar Arce, Dinah Basuel, Maan Catolico, Letty Pineda, Norma Gualberto, Susan Benitez, Anna Ng, Flor Balaba, Donna Navarette, Meg Manalo, Alice Cabazor, Marie Tan, Apple Samson, Kim Caro, Cynthia Carabeo, Girlie Solis, Sheila Tan, Joanne Bonifacio, Jane Bonifacio, Juliet Bustos, Nelia Servida, Thelma Que, Josie Cabacungan, Evelyn Borgonia, Neriza Naval, Susan Raquipiso, Cherie Depano, Lovella Catalan, Emmy Natividad, Fely Ng, Jasmine Tan, Vilma Gabros, Gigi Altamirano, Nenette Enriquez, Filipina Olona, Kim Doria, Tess Eusebio, Lina Labaguis, Grace Roces, LV Dytoc, Irene Benitez, Joy Uy, Jo Santiago, Christie Camba, Sally Ontong, Pinky Buenaflor, Marita Manuel, Josie Melgarejo, Eden Caninos, Luz Manzano, Lydia Malvar and Elena Ko.

The champion will represent the Philippines in the World Cup international finals set Dec. 5-12 at SAFRA Clubhouse, Telok Blangah, Singapore.

Canare, gunning for a third straight national crown, bagged the bronze medal in the international finals held at Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

The men’s titlist, CJ Suarez, went on to become only the fourth Filipino World Cup champion.

Previous Filipino winners were Paeng Nepomuceno, who bagged the World Cup four times; the late Lita dela Rosa and Bong Coo, who took the title once each.