SIX-TIME world champion Paeng Nepomuceno flashed his old deadly form to capture the Senior Masters and Mixed Open titles in the First Nobleland Open Bowling Cup championships last Sunday at the E-Lanes Center in San Juan City.
In addition to his two major crowns, the 57-year-old Nepomuceno, who holds the distinction of being the only four-time winner of the prestigious World Cup, also bagged the open men/ladies plum.
“I’m so happy because I consider my victories quite unique,” Nepomuceno said. “Usually, a senior bowler beats only fellow seniors. But in this case, I also won over young bowlers [in the mixed open and singles events].”
Carrying the colors of Nobleland, Nepomuceno shot 2,328 in 10 games to subdue PBA’s Nilo Penado (2,321) and MTBA-Henrich’s Sammy Say Sy (2,300) in the Senior Masters event. The veteran lefty carded 2889 in 12 games to topple Carlo Mansilungan (2852) and Kevin Cu (2,801) in the Mixed Open, and put together games of 736-739 for 1475 to whip Kenneth Chua (1,454) and Sammy Say Sy (1,417) in the men/ladies singles competition.
Nepomuceno sizzled in his 10- and 12-game outings. He posted high games of 279, 248, 247, 232, 228, 227 and 226 in the Senior Masters and two 279s, 269, 268, 258, 255, 243, 243, 236 and 235 in the Mixed Open.
Among the young stars he beat in the Mixed Open were former World Cup international finalists Benshir Layoso, who landed fourth at 2,795, Krizziah Tabora, who was sixth at 2,713, and Mades Arles, 12th at 2,633; Alexis Sy (2,625), Tyrone Ongpauco (2,524), and Kenneth Chua (2,523).
Nepomuceno, Mansilungan, Cu, Layoso and fifth placer Jay-Ar Tan all played without handicap in the Mixed Open, while Tabora and Arles each had an 8 handicap.