Bowling World Cup (BWC) champion Krizziah Lyn Tabora was in Cebu to compete in the 19th BTA-Cebu Sinulog Open National Tournament at Gaisano Bowlingplex in Banilad last week.
Ray Charlie Diaz
At first glance, Krizziah Lyn Tabora may seem to be one of those traditional refined Filipinas.
But don’t get deceived by her gracefulness as the 26-year-old youngster from Quezon City holds a lot of arsenal when it comes to bowling.
In fact, against some of the best professional bowlers from around the globe, the Philippine national team bowling centerpiece Tabora stood tall and took home the 53rd Qubica AMF Bowling World Cup (BWC) women’s division championship title back in November last year in Hermosillo, Mexico.
With this accomplishment, she came back home a hero as she ended the country’s 14-year title drought in the sport and became the fifth Filipino to win a BWC title.
Krizziah, standing five-feet tall, now joins the elite list of champions headed by Philippine bowling legend Paeng Nepomuceno, who won the BWC titles in 1976, 1980, 1992 and 1996. Other Pinoy champions were Lita del Rosa, the first Filipina who brought home a BWC trophy in 1978; Olivia “Bong Coo” Garcia, who won it in 1979; and Christian Suarez, who won his title in 2003.
Even with so much publicity after winning the title, Tabora stayed simple and modest.
“I really didn’t think I’d be famous,” she said. “But it feels good when sometimes someone pulls up to you and asks you for a picture. It’s kinda flattering,” she added.
Krizziah has been bowling for 20 years now. She developed her love for the sport when she was still in high school back in 2004.
“I was really sporty since I was little. I used to play volleyball, table tennis and basketball,” she shared. “I think I learned to love bowling because my daddy was a league bowler and he used to bring me to his games during weekends.”
In 2008, Tabora got into the Philippine national team. She then trained with them and won her first international silver medal in Jakarta, Indonesia, together with Lara Posadas in the 2016 Asian Intercity Bowling Championship women’s double event. The two, alongside Anne Marie Kiac and Maria Lourdes Arles, won the gold medal in the women’s team event, defeating Singapore and China.
During the 2017 Southeast Asian Games, Tabora as well as Posadas, Marie Alexis Sy, Dyan Coronacion and Maria Liza Del Rosario garnered the bronze medal at the women’s team of five event.
At the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, Tabora paired with Sy while Posadas partnered with Del Rosario in winning silver medals.
Just this month, the BWC title holder took part in the 19th Bowlingplex Tenpin Association (BTA)-Cebu Sinulog Open National Tournament at Banilad, Cebu City. Even though she was not able to qualify for the finals, she admitted that she enjoyed herself in the competition.
“It’s always nice to come here every year because the Cebuano organizers are very good and they take care of us really well,” she said.
Asked what she can advice to those aspiring to be successful bowlers, she said, “Just keep bowling. Have patience and show your eagerness and passion for the game.”