“IT’S going to be tough but we’ll be ready!”
Veteran Sammy Say Sy and national bowler Lara Posadas happily expressed a few minutes after they clinched the right to represent the Philippines in the 2016 Bowling World Cup international finals in Shanghai (China) after bagging the national men’s and ladies’ crowns Friday at SM North Edsa Center in Quezon City.
“I’m really happy. It’s going to be my first crack at the prestigious World Cup title,” said the 26-year-old Posadas who subdued multi-titled Liza Clutario 2-0 (215-193, 183-171) in the exciting ladies’ finals.
Sy, a 53-year-old MOA Center pro shop manager, echoed the same feeling after nipping national pintoppler Raoul Miranda 2-1 (236-204, 186-222, 212-181) in the men’s division.
“This is my first time to compete in an international event like the World Cup,” Sy said. “But I intend to practice more. In the past, I used to compete only in Asian inter-city meets. I feel honored because I played against six Philippine bowlers in the quarterfinals.”
Sy finished only third with 6706 after the first eight games, but he knocked out second finisher Merwin Tan 2-0 (234-194, 234-227) to earn a shot at topnotcher Miranda, who carded 7035 to pull away from Tan by 324 pins.
Posadas topped the eight-game quarterfinals with 6127, only 17 pins ahead of last year’s champion and top favorite Liza del Rosario but 292 pins away from Clutario. Clutario foiled Del Rosario’s bid to repeat by winning their knockout match, 2-1 (226-191, 211-253, 228-214).
Posadas, whose sister Apple played in the international finals in Toulouse, France in 2010, and Sy will see action at Hao’s Bowling Center in Shanghai, China on Oct. 14-23.
Nicco Olaivar finished fourth in the men’s division with 6693, followed by Jay R. Tan (6668), Paulo Valdez (6506), Alex Ngoi (6446) and Kevin Cu (6339).
Krizziah Tabora landed fourth in the ladies’ division with 5629, followed by Mades Arles (5379), Rochelle Munsayac (5259), Jo Anne Bonifacio (4879) and Myrna Bautista (4845).