NATIONAL team standout Jomar Jumapao rolled a series of 819 yesterday, pulling off a record in the men’s open division of the ongoing 2nd PBF Pagcor Philippine International Open at the Coronado Lanes at Starmall, Mandaluyong City.
Jumapao, a finalist in last year’s World Cup in Mexico, earned the distinction of becoming the first bowler in the 11-nation meet sponsored by Cafe Puro, Smart Communications and Boysen Paints to score an average of at least 270 points in three games.
It was actually the third 800 series in Jumapao’s career. The Cebuano did 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.
With his consistency, Jumapao secured the top seeding in the qualifier of the men’s division as foreign bowlers from Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Australia started to arrive late Sunday.
In the juniors’ division, 14-year-old Art Barrientos posted an eight-game series of 1695 to rule the 15-and-under category.
Female junior bowlers Norel Nuevo (1599) and Dale Lazo (1553) placed second and third, respectively, behind Barrientos.
John Mendoza topped the classified senior masters division with a 10-game series of 2056, a total of 58 pinfalls better than second-placer Romy Jaime while Boyet Delfino rolled 1977 to finish third overall.
Reigning World Cup champion Krizziah Tabora heads the cast in the women’s open division along with fellow Nationals Alexis Sy, Liza Del Rosario and Mades Arles while Kenneth Chua, Merwin Tan and bowling greats Biboy Rivera and Paulo Valdez are ready for the foreign challenge on the men’s side.
Australia’s Sam Cooley became the first foreign participant to qualify in the men’s open division finale with a score of 1462.
Philippine Bowling Federation secretary general Bong Coo said the two-week tournament serves as qualifier of the national pool to the Asian Games in Indonesia come August.