Class B kegler rolls best scores

MANILA, Philippines - National bowler Raoul Miranda assumed the Class O men’s singles lead but an unheralded Class B campaigner named Nilo Penado turned in the best scores Wednesday in the 41st PBC-POC-PBC Open championships at SM Center in Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

Carrying the colors of MTBA, Miranda put together games of 672 and 597 to nose out TBAM-Prima’s Jonas Baltasar (1249) and push erstwhile leader and former world champion Biboy Rivera to third spot at 1199.

But it was PBA’s Penado, a fiftyish regular participant in various local events,  who scored the day’s surprise by carding 1285 on games of 693 and 592 to take over Class B’s top spot, ahead of TBAM-Prima’s Joshua Autida (1247) and SLETBA’s Ted Victorino (1146).

TBAM Prima’s Jhoana Lualhati emerged as the new frontrunner in Class B ladies’ singles in the tournament sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Boysen, PCSO, Team Prima, F.R. Sevilla Constructiion and HCG.

Lualhati rolled 1169 (557-612) to dislodge BALP’s Nida Lagrisola, who tallied 1144 Tuesday.  PTBA’s Jojie Cabacungan held on to third spot at 1080.

PBAP-Bowlmart’s Kevin Cu matched the 1212 of frontrunner Ceasar Muere of PBA in Class A men’s singles, while PBA’s Wanda Teer and Nelia Santos checked in second and third in Class A ladies’ singles, behind overall tournament vice chair Girlie Solis.

Teer tallied 1134 and Santos posted 1116, but Solis kept the lead with 1165.

Prizes worth more than P1 million are at stake in the tourney.  The men’s and ladies’ Open Masters champions will receive P120,000 and P100,000, respectively.