Rivera, Del Rosario off to World Cup

MANILA, Philippines - It’s back to the international finals of the prestigious Bowling World Cup for two of the country’s leading campaigners – former world titlist Biboy Rivera and Liza del Rosario.

Saving their best for last, Rivera and Del Rosario outsteadied their respective rivals to win the 2014 BWC national championship last Friday at SM North EDSA center and earn a trip to the international competition in Wroclaw, Poland on Nov. 1-9 this year.

Rivera, who finished on top of the rigorous eliminations including the eight-game round robin competition, turned back Benshir Layoso, 2-1 (256-258, 227-193, 232-177) in the men’s division, while Del Rosario toppled elimination topnotcher Lara Posadas, 2-0 (206-188, 225-205) in the ladies’ bracket.

It will be the third international stint for Rivera and the fifth for Del Rosario, who twice came close to winning the World Cup – the first time in 2011 in Pattaya, Thailand when she emerged No. 2 and the second time in 2004 in Singapore when she finished third.  

Del Rosario also saw international action in 2007 in Russia and in 2009 in Melaka, Malaysia.

Rivera checked in third in his first BWC international finals appearance in Toulouse, France in 2010, but he did not do as well the following year in Johannesburg, South Africa.

But three other Filipinos – Paeng Nepomuceno, Lita dela Rosa and Bong Coo – had previously won the World Cup. Nepomuceno is the only pintoppler to bag the world’s toughest individual competition four times so far.

Del Rosario earned a shot at Posadas by rolling back another veteran internationalist, Liza Clutario, 2-1 (234-226, 204-208, 193-180) in the semifinals.

Layoso made it to the finals by knocking out 18-year-old national bowler Enzo Hernandez, 2-0 (206-198, 248-242).

The other bowlers who finished in the top eight were Sammy Say Sy, Eric Aranez, Jeff Carabeo, Jay Ar Tan, Nicco Olaivar in the men’s group and Rachelle Leon, Krizziah Tabora, Alexis Sy, Rochelle Munsayac and Mades Arles in the ladies’ division.