Merwin Tan, Krizziah Tabora-Macatula bag BWC national titles

MANILA, Philippines — Youthful national bowler Merwin Tan pulled off a stunning win over legendary Paeng Nepomuceno while 2017 International champion Krizziah Tabora-Macatula toppled multi-titled Liza del Rosario last Saturday to claim the 2019 Bowling World Cup titles and earn tickets to Indonesia for the International Finals in November.

“I was surprised to beat Paeng, I’m so happy,” said the 20-year-old Tan, who repeated as national champion after winning the match of lefty bowlers, 2-0 (186-182 and 244-200) in the men’s finals at Paeng’s Eastwood Bowl.

A student at College of St. Benilde-Antipolo who started playing when he was eight years old, Tan pledged to train harder in a bid to succeed in his second straight try for the world title, this time in Palembang, Indonesia, on Nov. 16-24.  Last year, Tan competed in the international event at Sam’s Town in Las Vegas, Nevada.

For 28-year-old Macatula, who also won 2-0 (237-211 and 213-180) over Del Rosario, she said she would try her best to repeat her 2017 triumph in the world ladies’ finals in Hermosillo, Mexico.

“I had actually stopped playing after winning the world crown because I’m busy working in our family business, but my dad convinced me to go back to bowling,” said Krizziah.

Tan, Nepomuceno, Del Rosario and Macatula actually ranked 1 and 2 after the original field of 115 bowlers was trimmed to eight men and eight ladies with respective scores of 6892, 6635, 6031 and 5715.

Tan topped Jayson Tubid and Nepomuceno whipped Paulo Valdez while Macatula outsteadied Dyan Coronacion and Del Rosario hurdled Mades Arles in the men’s and ladies’ semifinals.