At the age of 62, bowling legend Paeng Nepomuceno hasn’t stopped winning.
His latest Masters triumph – the 132nd of his distinguished career – came Saturday when he ruled the 17th PTBA (Playdium Tenpin Bowling Association) mixed open finals by scoring a 12-game series of 2677 pinfalls at the Playdium Center in Quezon City.
“It’s so special because I established a new record of being the oldest Masters champion,” said Nepomuceno, so far the only four-time Bowling World Cup men’s titlist who carried the colors of PRIMA and Philippine Bowling Federation in the star-studded event.
Nepomuceno beat veteran RJ Bautista, Enzo Hernandez and Patrick Nuqui who tallied 2618, 2615 and 2561, respectively.
Krizziah Tabora, also a BWC international titlist like Nepomuceno, finished seventh overall but No. 1 among the lady finalists with 2478 pinfalls to emerge women’s champion.
Alexis Sy came in second to Tabora with 2476.
Nepomuceno opened his bid with a 236 game and then chalked up 203, 198, 249, 226, 209, 234, 227, 223, 280, 190 and 202 in the next 11 games.
Bautista rolled big games of 261, 257, 246, 235 and 230.
Here’s how some of the other bowlers finished: Kenneth Chua, 2551; Praise Gahol, 2518; Paolo Darroca, 2471; Frederick Ong, 2469; Kevin Cu, 2463; Benshir Layoso, 2461; Jonas Baltasar, 2451; Alyssa Ty, 2415; Lara Posadas-Wong, 2393; Nicco Olaivar, 2387; Raoul Miranda, 2387; and Paulo Valdez, 2353.