Teener, vet pace top 8 in World Cup nat'l finals

MANILA, Philippines - A youthful champion and a veteran internationalist showed the way as eight men and eight ladies emerged as the remaining contenders for the 2011 Bowling World Cup national titles and the right to carry the national colors in the 47th international finals in Northcliff Bowling Center in Johannesburg, South Africa on Nov. 30-Dec. 7 this year.

Kenneth Chua, a 19-year-old student mentored by former Japanese pro Madoka Amano, rolled a 24-game series of 5190 pinfalls to finish ahead of ex-world champion Biboy Rivera and six others, including six-time world kingpin Paeng Nepomuceno, in the men’s division Tuesday at Paeng’s Midtown Bowl.

Multi-titled Liza Clutario flashed back her old form to top the ladies’ group with a 20-game series of 4139 pins Wednesday also at Paeng’s Midtown.

Rivera finished behind Chua at 5091, followed by Sammy Say Sy (5079), Nepomuceno (5072), Richie Poblete (5022), Louie Chuaquico (4998), Paulo Valdez (4980) and Ian Dychangco (4857).

Lara Posadas and her sister Apple, who represented the Philippines in last year’s international finals together with Rivera, ranked second and third in the ladies’ squad with 3910 and 3889, respectively, followed by Rochelle Munsayac (3823), Wanda Teer (3771), Pure Anselmo (3725), Liza del Rosario (3719) and Bernadette Ipapo (3646).

With their scores carried over, these remaining pintopplers will roll another eight-game series tomorrow at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay, with the top three finishers advancing to the best-of-three semifinal and final matches.

Chua, a right-hander, boasts a perfect game 300, a three-game series of 886 and a six-game series of 1556. He won the PBC national youth crown in 2009 and was named by the PBC as the 2011 youth bowler of the year.

Chua also bagged two gold medals in the Masters and team event last year in the Asian Universities Open championships.