Bowling’s greatest player now athletes’ No. 1 cheerer

Paeng Nepomuceno, who’s used to winning for the country, will be doing the cheering this time.

After failing to make the RP team for the 23rd SEA Games due to injury, the four-time World Cup champion has dedicated his time helping create more awareness for the biennial event.

As one of 12 ambassadors for the RP delegation, he is tasked to move around the country, visiting different schools, universities and even malls to promote the Games, which runs until Dec. 5.

When bowling action begins today at the Pearl Bowling Center in Parañaque City, Nepomuceno will surely be there to lead the cheering as the 12 members of the RP team start vying for the 10 golds at stake.

Action starts at 9 a.m. in men’s and women’s six-game singles (long oil).

The RP bowlers are upbeat of their chances with Irene Garcia Benitez saying: "We have handsome chances here. But we’re not taking to chances."

She picked Malaysia and Singapore as their possible opponents in today’s competition.

"I think Malaysia and Singapore have capabilities to pull surprises here. They are our usual opponents, added Benitiez, who was champion in the Philippine leg of the 2004 ABF Tour of Champions.

Also seeing action for the Philippine side are two-time SEAG gold medalist Josephine Canare, Liza Clutario, Ma. Liza del Rosario, Elaine Florencio and Ma. Cecilia Yap, who are all armed with enviable credentials.

  The men’s side will be bannered by CJ. Suarez, Ernesto Gatchalian, Constantine King, Tyrone Ongpauco and Engelberto Rivera.

Bowling, which was not included in the Vietnam Games in 2003, is offering a total of 10 gold medals for this edition.

  "I think we have a good chance." It’s an advantage to have your countrymen cheering for you. That’s a big help," Nepomuceno, who’s now back in action, fully recovered from a shoulder injury.

"Sometime last year while they were forming the team I had an injury and by the time it healed which was six months after, the team has already been formed.

"And I don’t want to displace anybody. It wouldn’t look good because they’ve been training all year round already. But I’m confident that we have a strong team," he added.

His presence in this SEA Games surely would have added to our chances. In as many as five stints in the SEA Games, Nepomuceno said he has won a dozen gold medals. — With report from Armand Carandang