Liza, other RP bets fall short in WWT singles

LAS VEGAS – The Philippines got struck by opening-day jitters and unexpected cooler conditions to bow out of contention in the singles event at the start of the World Women’s Tenpin Bowling Championships here Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).

Veteran Liza del Rosario emerged as the best performer for the Nationals, but her six-game series of 1,251 pinfalls, for a 208.5 average, was good enough for 42nd place overall, 110 pins behind Stefanie Nation of the US, who shot a 1,361, for a sizzling 226.8 clip at the sprawling Cashman Center.

Rookie Kimberly Lao tallied 1,116 and wound up in 99th spot at 1,186 while Liza Clutario, the 2005 Southeast Asian Games ladies’ masters titlist, was three rungs lower at 1,182.

Another newcomer, Rachelle Leon (1,167) was No. 115, Krizziah Taborah (1,149) No. 120 and Apple Posadas (1,110) No. 151, rounding up the RP showing in the field 228 players from 45 countries vying in this week-long event featuring the cream of women’s tenpin bowling.

The outcome left the RP bets out in the battle for the singles gold since only the four top players after the preliminaries get to contest the top plum.

Mexico’s Sandra Gongora finished second behind Nation with 1,357 and was followed by Denmark’s Anja Jensen (1,347) and Finland’s Krista Pollanen (1,345).

To decide gold, the No. 1 faces the No. 4, the No. 2 the No. 3, with the winners disputing the title in a one-game playoff.

 “Our girls were struck by first-day jitters, but I believe that’s normal. And the air-conditioning was cooler than our official practice the previous day,” said former RP standout Jojo Canare, making her own debut as national coach of the RP women’s squad.

“The cooler conditions somewhat also upset their rhythm and they were unable to adjust right away,” Canare added.

After opening strongly with a 225, Del Rosario, a bronze medalist in the World Games in Kaoshiung, Taiwan a week ago, slumped to 174 in the second game while her other scores were 201, 195, 233 and 223, respectively.