NATIONAL team member Biboy Rivera took runner-up honors last Sunday in the men?s division of the Asian Bowling Federation Tournament of Champions at the Jaya Ancol Bowling Center in Jakarta, Indonesia.

According to an e-mail sent by national coach Nico Valderama to Philippine Bowling Congress secretary-general Olivia ?Bong? Coo, Rivera actually led by 19 points when the 45-year-old Andrew Frawley responded with five strikes in a row in the eighth frame to eventually clinch his first-ever men?s crown with a score of 239 to 235 at the end of the ninth and final frame.

Frawley, who reached the finals after ousting another Filipino contender in Chester King, 219-187 and top seed Somjed Kusonpithak of Thailand in the quarterfinals, took home the top cash prize of $20,000, while Rivera settled for the $8,000 runner-up purse.

Rivera won over second seed Sithipol Kunaksorn of Thailand, 247-203 in the quarterfinals, and 2006 TOC champion Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong, 208-163, in the semis to arrange the title duel with Frawley.

?Going into this tournament, I didn?t expect anything, though I did focus on giving my best. I did not take a Christmas break just to practice because I knew how important this tournament is,? said Rivera in message relayed to Coo.

Valderama said it was a good finish for the Philippines with Biboy and Chester finishing at second and third, ?although winning the men?s title is what we really want.?

?Biboy played a very good match against Frawley. It?s just that Frawley had a better game,? said Valderama.

Next week, Rivera and King will leave for the United States to compete in a series of tournaments, according to Valderama, who said that the Filipinos? experience in the Tournament of Champions will help hone their skills and possibly achieve their goals of winning in the US. Peter Atencio