Tabora sizzles; King reclaims masters lead

MANILA, Philippines – Defending Ladies’ Open Masters champion Krizziah Tabora dazzled with a three-game series of 719 to secure top spot in the Class O singles, while Chester King regained the lead of the Men’s Open Masters qualifying of the 38th Philippine International Tenpin Bowling Championships at Paeng’s Midtown Bowl at the Robinson’s Place Ermita in Malate, Manila late Thursday.

The 18-year-old Tabora, who trained at the famed Kegel Bowling Center in Florida last year, flashed top form in rolling lines of 226, 269 and 224 for a 239.6 average in the tournament sponsored by the University of Perpetual Help System, Department of Tourism, Amway Philippines, Philippine Sports Commission, Chowking, Colgate-Palmolive, The City Bowling Shop, USAct, Pearl Garden Hotel, Nestle Philippines, Paeng’s Midtown Bowl and Pan Pacific Manila, the tournament’s official hotel.

Together with her earlier round of 619, Tabora also topped the Open Youth Girls’ Masters qualifying with 1338, relegating erstwhile leader Dyan Coronacion (1185) to second.

King, a two gold medalist in last year’s Asian championships in Hong Kong, waxed hot in totalling 1392, to overtake Biboy Rivera (1388) on top of the Men’s Open Masters. Paulo Valdez maintained third spot with 1373.

No major shakeups in the Ladies’ Open Masters with veteran Liza Del Rosario still leading the local pool with 1304, with Kim Lao moving up to second with 1272 ahead of another RP team stalwart Apple Posadas (1243).

The other new leaders in the 16-day kegfest organized by the Philippine Bowling Congress, were PTBA’s Audi Castro (1280) in Men’s Graded Masters, MTBA’s Kenneth Piedad (1218) in Men’s Associate Masters; PTBA’s Jojie Cabacungan (1092) and Rolly Delideli in Ladies’ Associate Masters and Men’s Rookie Masters respectively; PBAP’s Brown Yoon (1307) and PBA’s Mila Robles (1175) in Men’s & Ladies Senior Masters.

Competition starts to heat up with the arrival of the first batch of foreign contingents today. Among the international bowlers expected to crowd the national team for honors are US Pro rookie and World championship gold medalist Tim Mack, 2007 Philippine Open winner Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong, and current Asian Ranked No. 1 Hussain Al-Suwaidi of UAE.