Jumapao, Tabora lead PBF Int’l Open cast
After rolling a record series of 819 the other day, Filipino bowling ace Jomar Jumapao retained his top seeding in the men’s open elimination rounds of the second PBF Pagcor Philippine International Open at the Coronado Lanes at Starmall in Mandaluyong City.
Last year’s finalist in the prestigious World Cup held in Mexico, Jumapao led six other Pinoy bowlers who will qualify in the finals against a formidable foreign challenge from 10 other countries in Asia and Oceania.
The Cebuano national team mainstay compiled 1520 after breaking the 800-series barrier the other day while national youth standout Kenzo Umali placed closely behind Jumapao with 1497 in the tournament backed by Smart Communications, Cafe Puro and Boysen Paints.
JP Macatula of MBA-Timbrepro and bowling great Paulo Valdez, who rolled the first perfect game of the meet late last week, are running third and fourth with 1476 and 1467, respectively, followed by defending champion and Asian Indoor Games silver medalist Kenneth Chua (1436).
“We’ll be facing the foreign bowlers in the finals. We’re expecting a different challenge but we’re ready,’’ said Jumapao, who scored his third 800 series after pulling off the trick in 2004 and 2010.
National team head coach and international bowling Hall of Famer Paeng Nepomuceno acknowledged Jumapao’s feat, saying anybody is capable of scoring a perfect game of 300 on a lucky day but not all can consistently bowl a record series of 800.
World Cup champion Krizziah Lyn Tabora secured the No. 1 spot in the women’s open after rolling a total of 1515 while fellow national teammates Liza Del Rosario and Alexis Sy compiled 1407 and 1381.