Kevin Cu, a 24-year-old Philippine team member, sizzled with a 12-game series of 2739 pinfalls to outshine his veteran rivals in the recent second center finals of the 2016 Bowling World Cup national championship.
Cu finished 28 pins ahead of Nicco Olaivar (2551) in the men’s division to pace the second batch of national finalists in the prestigious individual competition.
Lara Posadas also scored a surprise by topping the ladies’ division ahead of seasoned campaigners Mades Arles, Liza Clutario and Liza del Rosario.
Posadas carded a 10-game series of 2109 at Astrobowl Alabang. Arles tallied 2090 at Commonwealth, while Clutario and Del Rosario scored 2047 and 2007, respectively, at Coronado Starlanes.
Other leading finishers in the men’s group were Anton Alcazaren, who shot 2511; Jay R. Tan (2451), Joebert Buenafe (2445), Scott Uy (2393), Jeffrey Carabeo (2381), Boy Roman (2367), Stewart Ngo (2360) and Raoul Miranda (2348).
Del Rosario and former world champion Biboy Rivera bagged last year’s national title to represent the Philippines in the international finals at Sam’s Town, Las Vegas.
The national finals will be held on August 13-14 at Coronado Lanes (Starlanes), August 16-17 at Paeng’s Midtown and August 19 at SM North EDSA.
The men’s and women’s winners in the national finals will carry the Philippine colors in the international event on October 14-23 at Hao’s Bowling Centre in Shanghai, China.
Four Filipinos, led by sports great Paeng Nepomuceno, have won the Bowling World Cup International plum. Nepomuceno is the only four-time winner so far in the world’s toughest individual kegfest.
The other BWC titlists were Lita dela Rosa, Bong Coo and C.J. Suarez.