Marwin Tan wins PH's 1st bowling gold in 11 years in SEA Games

Merwin Tan (Photo courtesy of PSC) HANOI - Merwin Tan finally ended the country's 11-year dry spell in bowling on Monday, coming from behind to rule the men's singles event at the Royal City Hanoi Bowling Lanes and fueling the Philippine drive in the 31st Southeast Asian Games here. Tan, 22, a left-hander, rolled a six-bagger in the sixth and last frame to erase a 52-pin deficit and beat Yannaphon Larpapharat of Thailand and Ryan Leonard Lalisang of Indonesia, to the delight of Pinoy officials, especially those from the Philippine Bowling Federation. Tan finished with a total score of 1292, his bid immensely helped by six straight strikes in the sixth frame where he scored 249, after a 234 in the fifth frame that bumped him up to No. 3 overall. Larpapharat and Lalisang were relegated to silver and bronze, respectively, with scores of 1286 and 1221. "Sobrang saya and shocking din po, na nanalo po ng gold ang Pilipinas (I'm so happy and shocked that I won gold for the Philippines). For the whole game, try lang po ako mag-maintain ng aking (to maintain my) focus and execution. Execution, making good shots and maximizing every frame," said Tan, who knew he had to come up with something big in the sixth frame to turn things around. The other Pinoy bowler in the field, Ivan Malig, finished 11th with 1087. "I am so overwhelmed, after 11 years... I cannot thank the Lord enough. Talagang coming from behind si Merwin (Merwin really came from behind). We prayed he could recover, and he did," said PBF Secretary General Bong Coo, who anxiously watched from the sidelines. Tan, a former junior bowler, delivered the country's first bowling gold since Frederick Ong last did the trick in the 2011 Indonesia Games and the 21st for the Philippine delegation here, which is jostling with Thailand for second place overall behind runaway leader Vietnam. It helped that Tan is a left-hander, according to coach Biboy Rivera. "Being a southpaw, Merwin had an advantage going into the last few games because the lanes were more difficult for right-handers," said Rivera. Alexis Sy and Mades Arles were still competing in the distaff side on Monday. (PR) }

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Hanoi , Han I , Vietnam , Republic Of , Philippines , Philippine , Benguet , Indonesia , Thailand , Yannaphon Larpapharat , Merwin , Alexis Sy , Ryan Leonard Lalisang , Biboy Rivera , Philippine Bowling Federation , , Royal City Hanoi Bowling Lanes , Southeast Asian Games , Philippine Bowling , Ivan Malig , General Bong Coo , Frederick Ong , Mades Arles , Merwin Tan Photo Courtesy Of Psc Hanoi Finally Ended The Country 39s 11 Year Dry Spell In Bowling On Monday , Oming From Behind To Rule The Men 39s Singles Event At Royal City Hanoi Bowling Lanes And Fueling Philippine Drive In 31st Southeast Asian Games Here Tan , 2 , A Left Hander , Olleda Six Bagger In The Sixth And Last Frame To Erasea 52 Pin Deficit Beat Yannaphon Larpapharat Of Thailand Ryan Leonard Lalisang Indonesia , O The Delight Of Pinoy Officials , Specially Those From The Philippine Bowling Federation Tan Finished Witha Total Score Of 1292 , Is Bid Immensely Helped By Six Straight Strikes In The Sixth Frame Where He Scored 249 , Ftera 234 In The Fifth Frame That Bumped Him Up To No 3 Overall Larpapharat And Lalisang Were Relegated Silver Bronze , Espectively , Ith Scores Of 1286 And 1221 Quot Sobrang Saya Shocking Din Po , A Nanalo Po Ng Gold Ang Pilipinasi 39m So Happy And Shocked Thati Won For The Philippines Whole Game , Ry Lang Po Ako Mag Maintain Ng Aking To My Focus And Execution , Aking Good Shots And Maximizing Every Frame , Uot Said Tan , Ho Knew He Had To Come Up With Something Big In The Sixth Frame Turn Things Around Other Pinoy Bowler Field , Inished 11th With 1087 Quoti Am So Overwhelmed , Fter 11 Yearsi Cannot Thank The Lord Enough Talagang Coming From Behind Si Merwin Really Came We Prayed He Could Recover , Nd He Did , Uot Said Pbf Secretary General Bong Coo , Ho Anxiously Watched From The Sidelines Tan , A Former Junior Bowler , Elivered The Country 39s First Bowling Gold Since Frederick Ong Last Did Trick In 2011 Indonesia Games And 21st For Philippine Delegation Here , Hich Is Jostling With Thailand For Second Place Overall Behind Runaway Leader Vietnam It Helped That Tan Isa Left Hander , Ccording To Coach Biboy Rivera Quot Beinga Southpaw , Erwin Had An Advantage Going Into The Last Few Games Because Lanes Were More Difficult For Right Handers , Uot Said Rivera Alexis Sy And Mades Arles Were Still Competing In The Distaff Side On Monday Pr ,