Two golds up as Asian Youth bowl unwraps

MANILA, Philippines — The 19th Asian Youth Bowling Championships gets going today with two golds up for grabs in the boys and girls singles competitions at the Coronado Lanes inside the EDSA Starmall in Mandaluyong.

Hostilities start at 9:30 a.m. with the single girls event followed by the boys singles at 12:30 p.m. in the tournament organized by the Philippine Bowling Federation and sanctioned by the Asian Bowling Federation and World Bowling, the world governing body for the sport.

PBF president Steve Hontiveros thanked Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez “for allowing the federation the use of the PSC’s Kegel Flex oiling machine for the Asian Youth Championships to meet world-class standards.”

Playing on their home turf, the Filipinos, who have been practicing on the 38-lane bowling center for nearly a month now, hope to surpass the country’s performance two years ago – two silver and two bronze medals in Macau.

Bannering the girls’ roster are Bea Hernandez, Nina de Vera, R-Joy Daval Santos and Daphne Custodio in the tournament sponsored by the PSC, Boysen Paints, Prima Pasta, Cebuana Lhuillier, F.R. Sevilla Industrial & Development Corp., Promax, Vectron Trade Corp. and Amstar Co. Inc.  

Making up the boys’ squad are Merwin Tan, brothers Praise and Gospel Gahol and Malig in the kegfest backed by NTN bearings, PLDT, Smart Communications, Rain Forest Mineral Water, R & M Preserves, Coronado Lanes. EDSA Shangri-La and Linden Suites are the official hotels of the 19th AYC.

Others competing are Australia, Bahrain, Chinese-Taipei, Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Macau, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Singapore.

World Bowling and ABF president, Sheikh Talal Mohammad Al-Sabah of Kuwait and Makati Rep. Monsour del Rosario graced the inaugurals last night at EDSA Shangri-La.

The boys and girls doubles events will be played tomorrow while the team competitions 1st block will be held Wednesday with the 2nd block to resume Thursday. The masters elims to the finals will be played on Friday and Saturday.