Merwin Tan ends PH's 11-year gold medal drought in SEAG bowling (Sabong News)
Author
Reynald I. Magallon
Date
MAY 16 2022
The renaissance of Philippine bowling continues as Merwin Tan delivered the gold medal in the men’s singles event to successfully end the country’s 11-year medal drought in the 31st Southeast Asian Games at the Royal City Hanoi Bowling Lanes in Vietnam on Monday May 16.
Tan bucked a slow start and leaned on a blazing finish, scoring 234 and 249 in rounds 5 and 6 respectively to leapfrog Yannaphon Larp-Apharat of Thailand and Ryan Leonard Lalisang of Indonesia in the standings and take the gold mint.
The Filipino kegler hit 1292 pinfalls to rule the tournament while eventual silver and bronze medalists Larp-Apharat and Lalisang scored 1286 and 1221 pinfalls respectively.
Compatriot Ivan Malig finished 10th with a score of 1087.
It was another historic achievement for the Philippine bowling team which saw a resurgence in the past few years after ending numerous dry spells in the international stage where Tan was also a big part.
He was part of the men’s team that won a bronze medal in the 2021 IBF Super World Championships which also ended a 15-year medal dry spell for the Philippine team in the world stage last year
Tan also authored the gold medal run in the 20th Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships in 2019 to also snap a seven-year medal drought of the country in the tournament.
