Gold for Jumapao

Let’s talk about bowling this time.

In particular, let me talk about Jomar Roland M. Jumapao, the perennial bowling awardee of SAC. This Cebuano bowler is a member of the Philippine Team that competed in the 11th Asian Schools Tenpin Bowling Championship in Hong Kong from May 20-26.

Jomar won the only gold medal for the Philippines in the said bowling competition by beating Japan’s Takahito Fukuda in the Boys Singles.

What’s so special about his victory? Two reasons: 1. He came from behind. 2. This is his fifth and final appearance in the Asian Schools championships.

The 18-year-old PT student from Velez College started with 244 in the first game to land seventh. He then rolled 236 and 243 in the succeeding two games to climb to second behind a Korean bowler.

Jumapao seized the moment after that and sizzled in the last three games with lines of 255, 254 and 234 for 1466 pinfalls beating Japan’s Fukuda by just 57 pins.

The victory was obviously sweet for the Cebuano bowler who could only muster a 2-2 (silver, bronze) medal showing in four previous stints in the tournament.

Jomar’s lone gold helped the Philippines (1-1-2) finish third in the competition behind winner Japan (6-3-2) and South Korea (1-4-3).

I was still trying to catch Jomar late last night to get a statement from him but I just couldn’t reach him. His mother Ruth told me yesterday that he would be planing in late from Manila being the only bowler from Cebu.

When I made a call two days ago, Ruth was so kind to entertain me and told me that Jomar was seventh in the first block of the Masters, as were speaking.

Jumapao, when interviewed, after his win said that he hopes to “make it to the Asian Youth Championship squad.”

A 17-year-old Japanese Misaki Mutokami became the darling of the games. The high school student wowed the crowd with a fiery performance in the Girls’ Masters winning over the Rebecca Whitting of Australia in the first stepladder and then tripping South Korea’s Sim Ui Jin in the final two games 242-224, 219-206.

The Masters gold was Mutokami’s third in the competition. Previously, she won the Girls Singles, All Events and added silver in the Girls Team competition to her medal haul. We will be hearing more of her in the next few years, as this is her first appearance in the tournament.

Another Cebuana bowler Kim Lao (now based in Manila), with Dyan Arcel Coronacion won the silver in the Girls Doubles. Later Lao, Coronacion, Krizziah Tabora and Rachelle Leon took the bronze in the Girls Team.

Jumapao, with Kenneth Chua, Enrico Hernandez and Jose Collins won the bronze in the Boys Team competition.  

A third place finish for the Philippines isn’t that bad at all.

In particular, a memorable victory for Jumapao after five tries. Seldom would you find a youngster that would hang on and persist. Well, he did and he could whop it up for a deserving triumph.

Congratulations Jomar and welcome home!

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Belated birthday greetings to my sister-in law May Aldemita and Rizzi Mae Amazona of Leaders Link, these two fine ladies celebrated their birthdays on May 25. More power to both of you.

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