Three cheers!

MANILA, Philippines -  From simple and humble beginnings rose not one but three new Philippine sporting icons. Winners whose inspirational success stories are like a whiff of fresh air for a country in need of good news from a fresh crop of heroes and heroines.

Krizziah Lyn Tabora, who picked up the bowling ball out of curiosity about the sport her dad plays, is the latest Filipino World Cup royalty in the esteemed company of the great Paeng Nepomuceno and Bong Coo.

Carlo Biado, who took a job at a driving range to pay for rentals at billiards halls, is the new world 9-ball titlist in the line of pool biggies led by the legendary Bata Reyes and Django Bustamante.

And Jerwin Ancajas, who like many youngsters look at boxing as a ticket out of poverty, is the reigning International Boxing Federation junior bantamweight champion and one of the rising stars in Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions and now Bob Arum’s Top Rank.

The trio sits on top of the world and shows no sign of slowing down in 2018.

The three are the Philippine Sportswriters Association’s co-Athletes of the Year for 2017.

It was Krizziah’s father Junky who’s actually into tenpin bowling, bringing the girl along to the bowling alleys.

Then when Krizziah was 14, she decided to try it out. She scored in the high 230s on her first game and happy Dad quickly recognized the need to get expert coaching for the future champ.

Good call.

Nine years since she started to play for flag and country, Krizziah struck gold on the world stage.

Playing the best performance of her career in the 2017 Bowling World Cup in Hermosillo, Mexico, the 27-year-old Tabora met her date with destiny and joined Nepomuceno and Coo – two of her current mentors – in the highly-exclusive club.

“Nakaka-inspire kasi (It’s inspiring to train under them because) they’re good role models. Isipin mo ang pinagdaanan nila, syempre ikaw parang gusto mo rin na ganoon ang marating (Just looking at their experience inspires you to strive harder to match their achievements),” says Tabora.

Nepomuceno, the Philippine team coach, was world champion a record four times (1976, 1980, 1992, 1996) while Coo, one of the team officials, ruled the prestigious meet in 1979. Lita dela Rosa (1978) and CJ Suarez (2003) were also triumphant once. 

No less than the great Paeng raves about his ward, who first won a bronze in women’s team event in the Southeast Asian Games and silver in team of four in the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games prior to her World Cup triumph.

“I’m very proud of her. She deserves all of these. She’s a hard worker; tapos na ang training, nagte-train pa sya ng additional (she continues to train even after the national team sessions). Talagang pinaghandaan niya ang World Cup (She really prepared for the World Cup) and her sacrifices paid off,” says Nepomuceno.

Krizziah was in the zone during the Mexico tournament, stringing up strikes in the fifth to ninth frames to open a 167-133 cushion against stepladder finals rival Siti Safiyah of Malaysia. Final winning score was 232 for Tabora, 196 for Safiyah.

Now among the bowlers to watch in every tournament, Tabora is ready to embrace her role as favorite.

“Added pressure but I’ll do my best,” she says.

Teeing off his reign

Biado worked at Villamor Golf and Country Club for two years during his teens but the exposure to the sport didn’t sway him away from his first love – billiards.

“Dati akong tee-boy sa Villamor. Noong first year high school ako, pag-galing sa school diretso ako sa driving range para maghanap-buhay. Pag may pera na, pupunta na ako sa bilyaran (When I was in first year high school, I’d go straight to work at the driving range after school. When I had enough money, I’d go to the billiards hall),” he recalls.

“Marunong akong pumalo pero di ko hilig (I can swing but golf’s not my thing),” he adds.

Biado turned pro in 2004 but didn’t really hit the jackpot until last year when he completed an undefeated run to the world 9-ball diadem.

Prior to that, he topped the World Games in Poland, a breakthrough triumph that boosted his confidence ahead of the prestigious worlds.

“Ito talaga ang pinakagusto ko (Winning the world 9-ball title was the goal all along),” says the 34-year-old cuemaster.

“Sabi ko sa sarili ko bago ako mag 35 o hindi lalampas ng 40, ramdam ko mag world champion ako. Pero hindi pa ako lumampas ng 35, tinupad na ng Lord ang dalangin ko, kaya ang saya ko (I told myself I wanted to be a world champion by 35 or not later than 40. And my prayers were answered even before I reached 35),” he says.

Long considered a top prospect to succeed Bata and Django but without the jewel to show, Biado finally validated his stature with an unblemished run in the world meet.

He got a free pass to the semis when his quarterfinal opponent, Chinese Liu Haitao, failed to show up in time for their duel. Biado took care of business in the Last-4, beating Taiwanese Wu Kun Li, 11-6, then punctuated his dominance with a 13-5 rout of compatriot Roland Garcia in the finals.

The fact that two Filipinos engaged in a showdown for the coveted crown made it even more memorable.

“Sabi ko kay Roland, ‘pare, good luck, kahit sino ang manalo sa atin, proud sa atin mga kababayan natin. Wala nang kawala ang world title, maibabalik natin ang karangalan sa Pilipinas’ (I wished Roland good luck, telling him whoever wins, Filipinos will surely be proud of us for bringing the title back to the Philippines),” says Biado.

Following Pacquiao’s footsteps

Ancajas, a former Palarong Pambansa and national youth champion from a humble family in Panabo, Davao del Norte, is hailed as possibly the next big thing in Philippine boxing.

His ring skills and fighting style caught the eye of Pacquiao himself and veteran Bob Arum of Top Rank, who signed him up to a two-year deal for career-making bouts in the US.

“He’s an exciting fighter who has not reached his full potential,” Pacquiao says.

Ancajas got his big break when Pacquiao promoted his 2016 shot at the title against McJoe Arroyo.

He made the most of the opportunity and wrested the crown with a 12-round unanimous decision.

In 2017, the MP Promotions standout defended the belt not once but thrice – all in stoppage.

He disposed of Jose Rodriguez in Macau in seven, Tairu Khosita in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Jeff Horn card in seven and Jamie Conlan in Belfast in six.

After the triple KOs, it’s sky’s the limit for Ancajas, who is set to make his US debut on Feb. 3 against challenger Israel Gonzalez in Texas.

“I look forward to following in the footsteps of my idol and promoter Manny Pacquiao,” Ancajas says. “I want to be a champion for a long time.”

In taking in Ancajas, Top Rank boss Arum virtually branded the 25-year-old Davaoeno as the “next Pacquiao.”

“I have had the opportunity to be at ringside for Jerwin’s fights in Australia and Macau and I see a lot of similarities to his co-promoter Manny Pacquiao,” says Arum.

“Jerwin has the killer’s instinct inside the ring and he’s a great finisher. Just look at his record – Jerwin has only gone the distance once in his last 14 fights.”