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Shanghai targets return to normal life starting June 1

A VIEW of the city skyline in Shanghai, China, Feb. 24, 2022. — REUTERS

SHANGHAI/BEIJING — Shanghai set out plans on Monday for the return of more normal life from June 1 and the end of a painful coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown that has lasted more than six weeks and contributed to a sharp slowdown in China’s economic activity.

In the clearest timetable yet, Deputy Mayor Zong Ming said Shanghai’s reopening would be carried out in stages, with movement curbs largely to remain in place until May 21 to prevent a rebound in infections, before a gradual easing.

“From June 1, to mid- and late June, as long as risks of a rebound in infections are controlled, we will fully implement epidemic prevention and control, normalize management, and fully restore normal production and life in the city,” she said.

The full lockdown of Shanghai and COVID curbs on hundreds of millions of consumers and workers in dozens of other cities have hurt retail sales, industrial production and employment, adding to fears the economy could shrink in the second quarter.

The severe restrictions, increasingly out of step with the rest of the world, which have been lifting COVID rules even as infections spread, are also sending shockwaves through global supply chains and international trade.

Data on Monday showed China’s industrial output fell 2.9% in April from a year earlier, down sharply from a 5.0% increase in March, while retail sales shrank 11.1% year-on-year, after falling 3.5% the month before. Both were well below expectations.

Economic activity has probably been improving somewhat in May, analysts say, and the government and central bank are expected to deploy more stimulus measures to speed things up.

But the strength of the rebound is uncertain due to China’s uncompromising “zero COVID” policy of eradicating all outbreaks at all costs.

“China’s economy could see a more meaningful recovery in the second half, barring a Shanghai-like lockdown in another major city,” said Tommy Wu, lead China economist at Oxford Economics.

“The risks to the outlook are tilted to the downside, as the effectiveness of policy stimulus will largely depend on the scale of future COVID outbreaks and lockdowns.”

Beijing, which has been finding dozens of new cases almost every day since April 22, offers a strong indication of how difficult it is to tackle the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

The capital has not enforced a city-wide lockdown but has been tightening curbs to the point road traffic levels in Beijing slid last week to levels comparable to Shanghai’s, according to GPS data tracked by Chinese internet giant Baidu.

On Sunday, Beijing extended guidance to work from home in four districts. It had already banned dine-in services at restaurants and curtailed public transport, among other measures.

In Shanghai, the deputy mayor said the city would begin to re-open supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies from Monday, but that many movement restrictions had to remain in place until at least May 21. It is not clear how many businesses have reopened.

From Monday, China’s railway operator will gradually increase the number of trains arriving and departing from the city, Zong said. Airlines will also increase domestic flights.

From May 22, bus and rail transit will also gradually resume operations, but people will have to show a negative COVID test not older than 48 hours to take public transport. — Reuters

Sweden, Finland NATO membership seen to increase Baltic security

BERLIN — Sweden and Finland joining NATO would increase the security of the Baltic region, Estonian Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets said.

“When we see that in our neighborhood also other democratic countries belong to NATO, it would mean that we could have broader joint exercises and also … more defense cooperation,” Ms. Liimets told Reuters in Berlin where she joined a meeting with other NATO counterparts on Saturday.

Ms. Liimets said she hoped Sweden, Finland and Turkey would overcome differences on the Nordic states joining the alliance, adding that the Berlin meeting atmosphere was very supportive.

“We have seen some differences, but we have also seen a willingness of those countries to overcome the differences,” she said.

Estonia appreciates NATO enforcing its presence in the Baltic region but would like the allies to move from enhancing their presence to enhancing their defense.

“It would mean that we would have more robust presence of land forces, but also air and maritime defense,” she added. — Reuters

Sri Lanka stumbles toward its first default on foreign debt

Sri Lankan bank notes in a container at a vegetable stall in Colombo. — BUDDHIKA WEERASINGHE/BLOOMBERG

SRI LANKA is sliding inexorably into default as the grace period on two unpaid foreign bonds nears an end, the latest blow to a country rattled by economic pain and social unrest.

The island nation could be formally declared in default if it fails to make an interest payment to bondholders before Wednesday, when the 30-day grace period for missed coupons on dollar bonds ends. That would mark its first default.

Sri Lanka’s government announced in mid-April it would stop paying back its foreign debt to preserve cash for food and fuel imports as it struggled with a dollar crunch that’s led officials to implement capital controls and import curbs. A few days later, it failed to service a $78-million coupon on its dollar bonds due in 2023 and 2028, leading S&P Global Ratings to declare a selective default.

“Without an agreement, there will be a formal default,” said Carlos de Sousa, a money manager at Vontobel Asset Management in Zurich. “Legally that matters. But for markets, Sri Lanka is already de facto in default, so the price effect of such an event is probably not going to be significant.”

Sri Lankan dollar notes due in 2029 were down 1.2% to 38.7 cents on the dollar Monday, after touching an all-time low of 37 cents on the dollar last week, indicative pricing data compiled by Bloomberg showed. The extra yield investors demand to hold the notes over US Treasuries is at 37 percentage points, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. That’s far above the 1,000-basis point threshold to be considered distressed.

While a default is widely expected by investors, it has important implications. Many of Sri Lanka’s bonds have so-called cross-default clauses, which drag all the outstanding dollar debt into default if there’s a missed payment in a single bond. On the debt due in 2023 and 2028, the clause is triggered if any payment that exceeds $25 million is not met.

“At this point most bondholders who are unwilling or unable to hold distressed credits should already have cleared out,” said Patrick Curran, a senior economist at Tellimer.

Sri Lanka has been rattled by power cuts, food shortages, and a currency in free fall, which fueled protests and pushed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to resign. His brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, last week appointed a long-time opponent to run the government in a bid to bring a modicum of stability to the country amid bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund.

As of Monday morning, the country hadn’t yet named a finance minister. The central bank governor has threatened to quit if political stability doesn’t return soon. The monetary authority is due to review policy May 19.

“The prime minister quitting was something that was really needed,” said Dean Tyler, the London-based head of global markets at BancTrust, who sees the recovery value of the notes between 35 and 45 cents per dollar. “Hopefully, it will start to clear the air and clear the streets.” — Bloomberg

North Korean leader Kim orders military to stabilize distribution of coronavirus drugs

KCNA VIA REUTERS

SEOUL — Leader Kim Jong Un has ordered North Korea’s military to stabilize distribution of COVID-19 medicines in the capital, Pyongyang, in the battle on the country’s first confirmed outbreak of the disease, state media said.

Last week brought the North’s first acknowledgment of an “explosive” outbreak, with experts warning it could wreak devastation in a country with limited medical supplies and no vaccine programme.

Drugs procured by the state were not reaching people in a timely and accurate way, Mr. Kim told an emergency politburo meeting on Sunday, before visiting pharmacies near the capital’s Taedong River, state news agency KCNA said.

Mr. Kim ordered immediate deployment of the “powerful forces” of the army’s medical corps to “stabilize the supply of medicines in Pyongyang City,” it added.

Although authorities had ordered distribution of national reserves of medicine, pharmacies were not well-equipped to perform their functions smoothly, Mr. Kim added, the agency said.

Among their shortcomings were a lack of adequate drug storage other than showcases, while salespeople were not equipped with the proper sanitary clothing and hygiene in their surroundings fell short of standards, the leader said.

He criticized the “irresponsible” work attitude, organization and execution by the cabinet and the public health sector, it added.

Neighboring South Korea will spare no effort to help the North fight its outbreak, President Yoon Suk-yeol told parliament on Monday, saying it was ready to provide COVID-19 vaccines and other medical support if Pyongyang agrees.

Seoul’s unification ministry, reponsible for relations between the neighbors, said it would soon propose a plan of support to the North.

North Korea’s tally of the fever-stricken stood at 1,213,550, with 50 deaths by Sunday, after KCNA reported 392,920 more cases of fever, and eight more deaths. It did not say how many suspected infections had tested positive for COVID-19.

The North has blamed a large number of the deaths on people who were “careless in taking drugs” because of a lack of knowledge about the Omicron variant of coronavirus and its correct treatment. — Reuters

Wrestling goes to action; Bodybuilders sent back home

HANOI — With Noel Norada and Jason Baucas showing the way, the national wrestling team goes into action Tuesday at the Gia Lam District Sporting Hall, determined to stamp its class in the 31st Vietnam Southeast Asian Games here despite lack of training due to the pandemic.

Mr. Norada, 38, and Mr. Baucas, 24, are bidding to keep the titles they won in 2019 back home when the national team came up with a 2-10-1 gold-silver-bronze production, second overall to Vietnam.

Mr. Norada will defend his crown in the 63kg class of the Greco-Roman event while Mr. Baucas will compete in the heavier 77kg division, the 72kg class where he won in the Philippines having been scrapped by the hosts.

Other Pinoy bets competing in the Greco-Roman class of the three-day competition are Jason Balabal, Margarito Angana at Jefferson Manatad.

Seeking medals in the women’s freestyle class are Noemi Tener, Minalyn Foy-os, Grace Loberanes and Jiah Pingot while Alvin Lobreguito, Jhonny Morte, Joseph Angana and Elvis Julius will fight in the men’s side.

BODYBUILDING TEAM SENT BACK HOME
It could have been prevented.

Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino was lamenting on the recent brouhaha concerning the national bodybuilding team that was sent back home packing for failing to comply with the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games doping requirements.

“I did everything up to the last minute,” said Mr. Tolentino. “But they invoke some rules which could have been remedied if some officials are really ‘working officials’.”

“Anyways, it’s a lesson learned,” he added.

Composed of eight men and a woman, the squad was not allowed to compete because it did not submit the necessary doping tests that should have been done three weeks before the start of their event.

It was mentioned in the games’ handbook that all participating athletes must submit doping and clearance certificates for them to be able to join.

Apparently, the Filipino bodybuilders have not.

In a story from Agence France-Presse, a news wire agency, the team was sad to learn that they could not participate and shoot for medals in the biennial meet.

They vowed to make a big return though in next year’s SEA Games edition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Lois Kaye Go, Rianne Mikhaela Malixi save day for Pinoy golfers

VINH PHUC — Determined to make up for their failure to win medals in individual play, Lois Kaye Go and Rianne Mikhaela Malixi rallied in the closing holes Monday to power the Philippines, the defending champion, to a 2-0 win over Indonesia and into the semifinals of the women’s golf team event in the 31st Southeast Asian Games here.

Ms. Malixi, the 15-year-old prodigy backed by ICTSI, trailed Holly Hallim Victoria by one hole through most of the match until she caught fire, knocking in three straight birdies to post a 2 and 1 victory at the Heron Lake course.

Ms. Go, 23, a member of the team that won the gold in 2019, also pulled off a come-from-behind 1-up win over Ida Ayu Indira Melati Putri after trailing by as many as two holes.

She began holding the lead in the first four holes until Ms. Putri won 14, 16 and 17 to take a two-hole lead. Ms. Go took the 18th hole to reduce the deficit to one. After both played halved the hole from first to sixth, Ms. Go turned the game around by winning 7 and 9 to prevail 1-up.

The Filipinas take on top seed Thailand, which took a bye, on Tuesday.

While the women’s team advanced, the men’s bowed out after suffering a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Indonesia.

Jet Hernandez led early after taking the second hole, but lost grip of the match and trailed by as many as two holes until he drew level on 12.

But Randy Arbenata won 13, 14 and 17 to complete a 3 and 1 victory.

Gab Manotoc was beaten 3 and 2 by Naraajie Emerald, who led all the way after winning the third hole, while Jed Dy lost to Amadeus Christian 3 and 2.

The other women’s semifinal match pits Malaysia against Singapore.

The Malaysians routed Vietnam 2-0, with Mirabel Ting Ern Hui trouncing Minh Doan Xuan Khue 5 and 3, and Jeneath Wong humbling Thuy Le Thi Thanh 4 and 3.

Singapore ousted Myanmar 2-0. Aloysa Mabutas Margiela Atienza, whose parents are Filipino migrants, whipped Waing Waing 4 and 2, while Hailey Loh Suanne edged Phu Pwint Yati Khine 1-up.

Rondina-Pons tandem clinches second win in beach volleyball

THE Philippine women’s team secured its second win in the 31st SEA Games beach volleyball after overwhelming Malaysia on Monday at the Tuan Chau Beach, Quang Ninh.

Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons made short work of Farwizah Aina Ahmad Nizar and Maegan Beh Jia Yin, 21-11, 21-9, while Jovelyn Gonzaga and Dij Rodriguez handily beat Foo Sin Xi and Sin Sing Yee, 21-14, 21-9.

Up next for the Philippines is 2019 silver medalist Indonesia, composed of Dhita Juliana and Putu Utami, and Martha Rahawarin and Nur Atika Sari, at 3:45 p.m. (Manila time) on Tuesday.

After bowing to defending champion Thailand on Sunday, Indonesia bounced back by beating Singapore, 2-0, to even its record to 1-1 and tie host Vietnam.

Like the Filipinas, bronze medalists in the 2019 edition, the Thais are also perfect in two contests after defeating the Vietnamese, 2-0.

The women’s competition is a single-round robin, where the Philippines needs to finish at least in the top two to make it to the gold medal match. If they finish in third or fourth after the single-round robin, the Filipinas will play in the bronze medal match.

In the men’s division, the Philippines will play Cambodia at 10:45 a.m. (Manila time) on Tuesday.

The men’s competition is pool play, where the Philippines needs to finish in top two in Pool A to advance to the semifinals.

Inter race to final day with victory at Cagliari

CAGLIARI, Italy — A double from Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez earned Inter Milan a 3-1 win at Cagliari on Sunday, a victory that ensured the Serie A title race will go to the final weekend for the first time since 2008.

With leaders AC Milan having beaten Atalanta 2-0 at the San Siro earlier on Sunday, Inter had to win in Sardinia to keep the title race alive, edging in front in the 25th minute through Matteo Darmian.

Martinez added a second six minutes after the break for Inter and they appeared on course for a comfortable ninth win in 10 matches in all competitions, before Charalampos Lykogiannis arrowed in a strike out of nowhere to get Cagliari back in it.

Inter suffered some nervy moments before Martinez’s quality shone through at the last, as his classy finish six minutes from time finally ended Cagliari’s hopes of a comeback.

The victory ensured Inter remained two points behind Milan going into the final round. The champions must beat Sampdoria at home on Sunday, and hope Milan lose at Sassuolo, if they are to defend the Scudetto.

“It wasn’t easy after Milan’s win, but the team played really well against an opponent who is problematic on their own ground,” coach Simone Inzaghi told DAZN.

“I congratulate my team, because this was by no means to be taken for granted, especially after playing 120 minutes on Wednesday (in the Coppa Italia final).

“Naturally, we are behind, so we need a victory and for them (Milan) to lose. It’s happened before, I won with Lazio when we were two points behind and Juventus lost to Perugia (in 2000), so it can happen again.”

Inter thought they had settled their nerves in the must-win contest when Milan Skriniar bundled the ball into the net early on, only for VAR to rule the Slovakian defender had used his hand to score.

The visitors did not have to wait much longer for one to count, however, as Ivan Perisic crossed for Darmian to head home his second league goal of the season.

Martinez almost added another on the cusp of halftime, before hammering home the second – his 20th league goal of the campaign. The Argentine became the sixth player in Inter’s history to score 20 goals in a single Serie A term before turning 25.

In cruise control, Inter stood off Lykogiannis and his strike was unstoppable, giving the home fans hope.

But it was Martinez who had the final say, lofting his second of the match into the net.

Cagliari’s fate will also be sealed on the final day of the season. They remain in the bottom three, two points behind Salernitana in 17th. The Sardinians must beat already-relegated Venezia on the final day to have any hope of survival.

Genoa, who have spent the last 15 seasons in Serie A, were relegated on Sunday after their 3-0 loss at Napoli. — Reuters

Celtics clobber Bucks to reach Eastern Conference finals

GRANT Williams exploded for a career-high 27 points and led a defensive charge on Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo as the host Boston Celtics advanced to the NBA’s final four with a 109-81 romp over the defending-champion Bucks in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Sunday afternoon.

Jayson Tatum chipped in with 23 points and Jaylen Brown 19 for the second-seeded Celtics, who will advance to face the top-seeded Miami Heat in the Eastern Finals. Game 1 is scheduled for Tuesday in Miami.

The Celtics will be making their fourth trip to the Eastern Finals in the last six seasons. They have not advanced to an NBA Finals since 2010, having lost four consecutive times when one step away, twice to the Heat and twice to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

After losing twice at home earlier in the series and falling behind 10-3 in the best-of-seven finale, the Celtics dominated the final 44 minutes, especially from long range.

Williams, a third-year pro who had never scored more than 21 points in his NBA career and never made more than six 3-pointers, stunned the Bucks with 7-for-18 accuracy from beyond the arc, accounting for all but six of his points.

“I told him to ‘Let it fly. They’re disrespecting you more tonight than earlier in the series,’” Celtics coach Ime Udoka said of his message to Williams. “That was the plan for him and other guys.”

Tatum added five 3-pointers and Payton Pritchard four as the Celtics shot 22-for-55 on 3-point tries, outscoring the Bucks by a whopping 66-12 from beyond the arc.

With Jrue Holiday and Pat Connaughton combining for 0-for-11, Milwaukee went just 4-for-33 from deep.

After a last-second foul on Antetokounmpo on a Marcus Smart 3-point heave from beyond half court had helped the Celtics build a 48-43 halftime lead, the hosts gradually pulled away throughout the second half.

Williams, Tatum and Brown all hit 3-pointers in an early burst in the third period that opened a 59-47 lead, and Milwaukee was never closer than 10 after that.

“They were the better team in a seven-game series,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said of Boston.

Pritchard finished with 14 points and Smart 11 for the Celtics, who stayed alive with a 108-95 win at Milwaukee in Game 6 on Friday.

Smart completed a double-double with a game-high 10 assists, while Al Horford was the Celtics’ top rebounder with 10 to go with six points and six assists.

Antetokounmpo, who had averaged 35.3 points on 46.8-percent shooting in the first six games of the series, was harassed into 10-for-26 shooting and limited to a team-high 25 points.

“I felt like we started grinding him down,” Udoka said of the two-time league MVP. “He missed some of the easier shots around the basket. That’s what we talked about. It’s not just one guy (guarding him). We stuck with that.”

He also found time for a game-high 20 rebounds and team-high nine assists.

Holiday finished with 21 points and Bobby Portis 10 for the Bucks, while Brook Lopez logged a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

The Bucks played the series without three-time All-Star Khris Middleton, who sprained the MCL in his left knee during Game 2 of the first-round series against the Chicago Bulls.

“Every team goes through something. Nobody feels sorry for us,” Budenholzer said. “It’s the age-old equation: You’ve got to have good players; you’ve got to be a little lucky; and you’ve got to be healthy. You need all of these things to be successful in the playoffs. I’ve heard it a million times. We weren’t as healthy as we could have been, but nobody cares.” — Reuters

Luka Doncic, Mavs demolish Suns with 33-point blowout in Game 7

LUKA Doncic recorded 35 points and 10 rebounds and the Dallas Mavericks dismantled the host Phoenix Suns with a convincing 123-90 victory in Game 7 to claim a spot in the Western Conference finals.

Spencer Dinwiddie poured in 30 points off the bench and Jalen Brunson added 24 as fourth-seeded Dallas steamrolled the top-seeded Suns. The Mavericks led by as many as 46 points while reaching the finals in the West for the first time since winning the 2011 NBA Finals.

Dallas will face the third-seeded Golden State Warriors in the conference finals. Game 1 is Wednesday night in San Francisco.

Devin Booker scored 11 points on 3-of-14 shooting in his first career Game 7 for the Suns, who won an NBA-best 64 games. That output also set a franchise record.

Booker missed his first nine field-goal attempts before sinking a jumper with five minutes left in the third quarter.

Starting anchors Booker, Chris Paul (10 points, 4-of-8 shooting) and Deandre Ayton (five points, 2-for-5) totaled 26 points on combined 9-of-27 shooting. Overall, Phoenix shot 37.9 percent from the field, including 12 of 34 from behind the arc.

The Mavericks were the first road team to win in the seven-game series. Dallas lost its first three visits to Phoenix by an average of 19 points, including a dismal 110-80 setback in Game 5.

After falling behind 2-0 and 3-2 in the series, Dallas won the final two games by an average of 30 points.

The Mavericks shot 56.8 percent from the field and made 19 of 39 from 3-point range in the wire-to-wire victory. Doncic was 6 of 11 from behind the arc and Dinwiddie made 5 of 7.

Cameron Johnson scored a team-high 12 for Phoenix.

The home fans booed the Suns off the court at halftime when the score was 57-27. Phoenix’s halftime total matched the output of Doncic, who was 9 of 12, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range.

Dinwiddie added 21 in the half on 7-of-10 shooting and 4 of 5 from behind the arc.

Meanwhile, the Suns’ trio of Booker (0 of 7), Ayton (1 of 4) and Paul (0 of 4) were 1 of 15 for six points in the half.

Doncic scored 12 points in the first quarter as the Mavericks built a 27-17 lead.

Doncic (15) and Dinwiddie (13) combined for 28 points in the second quarter as Dallas outscored Phoenix 30-10.

After halftime, Dallas scored 15 of the first 20 points to stretch the lead to 40 at 72-32 with 7:44 left in the third quarter.

Dinwiddie’s final 3-pointer, coming with 48.3 seconds left in the stanza, gave the Mavericks a 92-50 lead and they remained well ahead in the fourth quarter while finishing the startling wipeout win. — Reuters

Pinoy boxers begin SEA Games campaign

BAC NINH City, Vietnam — Tokyo Olympics women’s boxing silver medalist Nesthy Petecio stakes her world-class mettle against Myanmar’s Kay Thwe in the 31st Southeast Asian Games on Wednesday at the Bac Ninh Stadium.

A victory by Ms. Petecio will guarantee her a bronze medal as fellow Olympian Eumir Felix Marcial, who owns a bronze from Tokyo last year, drew a bye on Wednesday and will only fight in Thursday’s quarterfinals against the winner between Peerapat Yeasungnoen of Thailand and Bui Phuoc Tung of Vietnam.

Ms. Petecio, the women’s featherweight Tokyo Olympic silver medalist, battles Myanmar Kay Thwe in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, while pro Olympic bronze medalist Marcial drew a bye to get into the semifinals and wait for the winner between quarterfinalists Peerapat Yeasungnoen of Thailand and Bui Phuoc Tung of Vietnam on Thursday.

The other Tokyo Olympian, Irish Magno, will collide against Indonesia’s Novita Sinadia on Friday in a women’s flyweight semifinals fight, while Marjon Piañar, who also drew a bye, will fight in Friday’s semifinals in men’s welterweight against either Sarohatua Lumbantobing of Indonesia or Cambodia’s Vy Sophors.

“We are going to do our very best to match our last SEA Games performance three years ago, that’s what we prepared for,” Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines training director Don Abnett said.

Filipino boxers won seven gold, three silver and two bronze medals in the Philippines 2019 Games.

Mr. Marcial, meanwhile, has gotten his skill set back to Olympic boxing following his successful fight as a pro in the US earlier this year.

“I’m focusing on my fights for now,” said the 26-year-old Mr. Marcial, who has dominated the middleweight class in the Games since 2015 in Singapore.

Mr. Abnett, however, warned Mr. Marcial on Mr. Yeasungnoen, the 2018 International Boxing Association Youth World Championship bronze medalist, saying the 19-year-old Thai can pull off an upset.

“Anything can happen here,” Mr. Abnett said. “That Thai boy is very dangerous, but Eumir is training very nicely and he’s fit.”     

Ian Clark Bautista battled Mohammad Hanurdeen Bin in men’s featherweight quarterfinals and James Palicte faced Vietnamese Vu Thanh Dat in men’s lightweight preliminaries late Monday.

On Tuesday, Thai Open champion Rogen Ladon faces Malaysia’s Muhammad Abdul Qaiyum in a men’s flyweight quarterfinals clash.

Josie Gabuco will defend her title in the semifinal phase of women’s flyweight when she clashes with Thai Chuthamat Raksat on Thursday and Riza Pasuit meets Vietnamese Vuong Thi Vy also in a semifinal lightweight bout.

Tan rules the men’s single event in bowling

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 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. For the whole game, try lang po ako mag-maintain ng aking focus and execution. Execution, make 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. 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.

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