FORMER World Cup champion Krizziah Tabora-Macatula and Singapore-based national junior bowler Zach Ramin were running ninth and 14th in the overseas women’s and men’s divisions, respectively, last Monday in the qualifiers of the 53rd Singapore International Open.
The bespectacled Macatula, who captured the women’s crown in the 2017 World Cup in Acapulco, Mexico, rolled two three-game series of 787 and 535, respectively, for a combined tally of 1122 and an average of 187 pinfalls.
She stood 154 pins behind Malaysian pacesetter Faten Nahijah Ahmad Faik, who bowled 1276 (644-632) while Malaysians Nur Syazwani (1256) and Sin Ji Lane (1224) were running second and third, respectively, with the top 10 bowlers advancing to the two-round finals.
Tabora’s teammate, Norel Nuevo, was in 12th spot (1056, 541-515) and can still go up the standings as she bids to take another crack in the qualifying rounds until Friday.
Ramin, 18, whose parents are both working in Singapore, had scores of 632 and 621 for a total output of 1251, 123 pins behid Indonesian frontrunner Jeri Maradona, who scored 1374 after a sizzling series of identical 687 for a 229 norm.
Breathing down the Indonesian’s neck was Japan’s Hiroki Takada, who was just three pins shy behind at 1371 (714-657) while lurking in third place was Malaysia’s Rafiq Ismail, who ruled the Malaysian Open over the weekend, at 1354 (696-658).
Only 14 bowlers from the overseas men’s division will qualify for the two-round finals starting Saturday, with national bowler Jordan Dinham-Alcantara currently ranked No. 6 among the reserves (1208, 664-554).
PSC Commissioner and former bowling star Bong Coo said the national team’s participation abroad is part of its preparation for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games scheduled Nov. 17 to 26 in Bangkok and Pattaya, Thailand.
Filipino keglers bagged a pair of silvers in the 4th AIMAG in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan six years ago.
