RP bowlers fumble in world men’s tourney

The Philippines continued to struggle in the World Men’s Bowling Championships yesterday, running 17th, 181 pin falls behind the pacesetting South Korea squad after the first three blocks of the trios short oil event at the Homeplus Asian Bowling Centre in Busan, Korea.

Southeast Asian Games gold medallist Markwin Tee rolled 234, 236 and 171 to be the Philippines’ top scorer with 641 followed by Tyrone Ongpauco with 207-234-164 (605) and Paeng Nepomuceno with 165-237-183 (585).

With a 1831 total, the RP trio had a lot of catching up to do with Korea’s Choi Jong-In, Joung Seoung-Joo and Kam Tae-Won who scorched the lanes to set the pace with 2012.

The Korean trio set up a torrid pace with a 684 opening game and followed it up with the highest game of 730. Despite a poor third game of 598, the host nation was able to overtake Squad 1 leader Malaysia, which had 1937, third place overall.

Choi chalked up the highest three-game series over the short oil pattern with 696 followed by Kim with 664 and Joung on 652. Singapore’s Lee Yu-Wen, Shaun Ng and Remy Ong, who took the lead in the first game, kept pace with the leader to finish second with 1957.

Malaysia, represented by Daniel Lim, Azidi Ameran and Alex Liew, was relegated to third spot with 1952, five pins behind the Singaporeans. Australia’s Jason Walsh, Bradon Qualischefski and Jason Belmonte, running second in Squad 1, also dropped to fourth with 1937.

Ongpauco, Nepomuceno and Tee were actually running third behind Korea and Singapore with 1313 pin falls after the first two games in Squad 2.

That gave the Philippines a semblance of a fight after settling for eighth place in the doubles courtesy of Chester King and Biboy Rivera Friday.

Sweden bagged the doubles gold with Robert Andersson and Martin Larsen combining for 2831 Friday. The Philippines placed eighth with King and Rivera rolling 2689. King averaged 210.83 and Rivera 273.32.