JUNIOR kegler Aui Padawan overcame a slow start to be crowned the Bowler of the Year of the Bowlingplex Tenpin Association (BTA)-PRIMA las Sunday at the Gaisano Bowlingplex in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City.
The 22-year-old graduating student of the University of San Carlos (USC) finished the six-game series with 1,785 pin falls to emerge as the champion.
“It was really unexpected actually. I was having a hard time in the first few games but as the game went on, I was able to find the perfect line that I used to score strikes,” said Padawan, a Computer Engineering student.
The win should bolster Padawan’s chances of being scouted by the Philippine National team for bowling. According to Padawan, playing for the national team is one of his ultimate goals in his career in bowling.
Padawan’s teammates Xyrra Cabusas and Gijay Buyco are members of the Philippine National team that competed in the 14th World Youth Bowling Championships in the USA last July.
Meanwhile, Clifford Tan finished second with 1,573 and Ruel Zuniga third with 1,572. Clarence Tiu landed at fourth place with 1,548 while BTA President Bel Suelto Jr. placed fifth with 1,526.
Sixth to 10th placers were Luke Bolongan (1,526), Vivian Padawan (1,524), Luther Tapaya (1,515) , Xyrra Cabusas (1,479) and Dante Calipay (1,440), respectively.