Paeng wins the 2011 Philippine International Open for the eight time

Republished: Courtesy of Bowlingdigital.com


PAENG WINS 40TH PHILIPPINE INTERNATIONAL OPEN FOR THE EIGTH TIME


Extends Guinness World Record to 123 career titles


Paeng Nepomuceno of the Philippines defeated former 2006 World Masters Champion Biboy Rivera, 195-184, to capture the masters title of the 40th Philippine International Open Championships June 25 at Midtown Bowl in Manila, Philippines.

The USBC silver level coach, a living legend in his country, won the Philippine Masters for a record eighth time in his illustrious career and extended his own Guinness Book World Record to 123 international titles. Nepomuceno received 250,000 Philippine Pesos for the victory, approx. US$5,800. 

At 54 years of age Nepomuceno, who has won his first Philippine International Open in 1974 at the tender age of 17, is now the youngest and oldest winner in the 40-year history of the most prestigious event in his country.

"I feel really good that at my age I can still keep up with the younger ones and I am happy that I won again the Philippines most prestigious tournament," Nepomuceno states. "I think my father Pappy helped me win. It was his birthday the day before the finals”. Nepomuceno's father passed away a year and a half ago.

36 players qualified for the Philippine International Open Championships Masters finals, who bowled eight games to cut to the top 20. Those 20 bowled another eight games in Round Two with the top 8 advancing to the finals in one-game knockout format.

Nepomuceno, who played for Prima, ousted Asian ranking champion Hussain Al-Suwaidi in the quarterfinals, 249-213, and went on to defeat compatriot Benshir Layoso in the semifinals, 226-189.

Rivera, the 2010 Philippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Year 2010 for winning gold medal in singles at the Guangzhou, China Asian Games last year, eliminated Jeff Chan (213-206) and Jeff Carabeo (223-171) on his way to the title match.

In the championship match, Nepomuceno outclassed Rivera, 195-184, despite of a split in the last frame.

Nepomuceno owns three Guinness Book World Records. No. 1 for being the youngest world bowling champion winning the 1976 Bowling World Cup at the age of 19, No. 2 for being the only athlete to have won world titles in three different decades (70’s, 80’s and 90’s) and No. 3 for winning the most international career titles (now 123).


 


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