MOVING like gypsies from one facility to another for a month in the absence of a permanent bowling training center, the national bowling team hopes to use these challenges to fuel their campaign in the IBF World Championships starting today in Kuwait.
“These give us some resilience when things are not going smoothly; you have to adapt and have some resilience,” said American coach Joe Slowinski before the national squad left for the competition over the weekend.
Composing the men’s squad are Vietnam Southeast Asian Games double gold medalist Merwin Tan, Patrick Nuqui, Ivan Malig and teen bowling sensation Zach Sales Ramin, the youngest member at 18.
Making up the women’s squad are 2017 World Cup champion Krizziah Tabora-Macatula and veterans Lara Posadas Wong, Rachelle Leon and Mades Arles.
Slowinski the bowlers have been moving around different bowling centers after their usual facility, the AMF Puyat Bowling Center inside the Starmall in Mandaluyong, was shut down by management.
Since then, he added, the bowlers have been moving around from one center to another and had their last practice at the Q-Plaza in Cainta, Rizal, where they tried to simulate the conditions they expect to encounter in the Kuwaiti capital.
Slowinski declined to make any forecast on how the Pinoy bowlers would fare, saying: “I don’t make any predictions because you have no control over the other teams.
“What I have been seeing though is comfort with discomfort, meaning whatever zones or conditions the players need to play. We have been working very closely generally building comfort and skill across. I like what I am seeing.”
He emphasized that “one thing for me that is important is the process of preparing. And the bowlers are getting comfortable with the process of preparations, the habits, the routines, the philosophies, having the versatility.
