THE national bowling team, bannered by three members of the men’s squad that bagged the gold medal in the Vietnam Southeast Games last year, rolls into action today as singles play begins in the 26th Asian Tenpin Bowling Championships at the SCAA Bowling Center in Hong Kong.
Ian Dychangco, Ivan Malig and Patrick Nuqui, who, together with Merwin Tan, ruled the men’s team event in Vietnam, spearhead the men’s team campaign in the competition that has lured 96 men and 50 women from 16 Asian countries.
Aside from the Philippines and host Hong Kong, other countries competing in the meet are China, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kuwait, Macau, Malaysia, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Chinese-Taipei, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan.
Tan, who also bagged the men’s individual mint in the Vietnam Games, is indisposed, according to national men’s bowling coach Biboy Rivera.
Rivera said Jordan Dinham, Emerson Gotencio and Daniel Evangelista complete the national men’s squad.
Former World Cup champion Krizziah Tabora-Macatula and veteran Lara Posadas-Wong banner the women’s squad that also features Rachelle Leon, Mades Arles, Grace Gella and Danielle Lazo.
The national team’s HK stint is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.
The Asian meet marks its return to the bowling scene after a three-year absence due to the pandemic. The last edition of the tilt was held in Kuwait in 2019.
With the former British crown colony and organizing Hong Kong Bowling Tenpin Congress imposing strict health and safety COVID-19 protocols, the Pinoy keglers, who took antigen tests five days before the tournament, left over the weekend.
Aware they are short on training and international exposure compared with their opponents, Rivera declined to make any forecast, except to say that “we will do our best and try to make our country proud.”
Up for grabs in both the men’s and women’s divisions are gold medals in the singles, doubles, trios, team and masters’ events.
The top 16 in both divisions based on their all-events overall standings after the first four events will enter the round robin masters’ finals to be played over two blocks of eight games, with the top three in each category advancing to the stepladder shootout finals to determine the winners.
The combined all-events total of the top five bowlers from each country will be used to decide the teams qualifying for the IBF combined world championships to be held in Kuwait in October.
