Tiongson emerges TenpinDev inaugural champ

MANILA, Philippines - John Tiongson crowned himself champion of the first Tenpin Development Match Play recently, beating Nilo Penado at the Green Valley lanes in Pasig City.

Tiongson, who advanced into the finals after disposing semifinal rival Paolo Darroca, rolled a three-game series 212-192-200 against Penado, who finished with 247-174-220 at the 34-lane bowling alley.

A veteran of several big local bowling tournaments, Tiongson played true to form throughout in defeating Penado, who made it to finals by ousting Marc Serac earlier.

Penado, who made a rare perfect 300 pins in upsetting 2006 World Bowling king and 2010 Asian Games gold medalist Engelberto “ Biboy” Rivera in the round first round, played an inspired game but couldn’t upstage Tiongson, who produced a near flawless game.

Serac, who defeated Tajee Yusingco in the initial round and Kap Aguila in the round of 8, placed third place.

 What made his triumph memorable was the fact that he shocked outstanding favorite and four-time World Cup champion Paeng Nepomuceno in the second round.

“First time ko lang nakalaro si Penado. He’s good and played well against me,” said the 37-year-old Rivera, a 2010 Philippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Year awardee.

The competition is the first project of the newly formed bowling group Tenpin Bowling Sports Development of the Philippines headed by former Mayor and ex-Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Mario S. Raymundo in partnership with the Philippine Bowling Congress headed by Toti Lopa.