Obscure bets show up WCup finals favorites

MANILA, Philippines - A couple of unheralded bowlers – Kenneth Chua and Rochelle Munsayac – surprised the favorites by pacing the first day of eliminations in the 2011 Bowling World Cup national finals over the weekend at Coronado Lanes.

Chua opened with a big 266 game and finished with a 12-game series of 2712 to lead six-time world champion Paeng Nepomuceno, ex-world titlist Biboy Rivera and 31 other male contenders into the second round of the tough battle for the right to represent the Philippines in the international finals set on Nov. 30 to Dec. 7 at Northcliff Bowling Center in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Nepomuceno rolled 2699 and Rivera shot 2578 as the field was cut from 82 to the top 34 based on total pinfalls after Saturday’s kickoff.

Munsayac emerged as the top performer in ladies’ singles Sunday by shooting 1986 in 10 games, rolling ahead of former Southeast Asian Games medalist Liza Clutario (1958), Apple Posadas (1902), Lara Posadas (1877), Wanda Teer (1875) and Liza del Rosario (1840).

The ladies’ group was likewise trimmed to the top 34.

Action shifts to Paeng’s Midtown Bowl today and tomorrow with the remaining aspirants, with their scores carried over, battling for a spot in the final 8 (quarterfinals, semifinals and finals) set on Friday at the SM Mall of Asia Center.