TOP PLAYERS from Manila including legends Paeng Nepomuceno, Bong Coo and Biboy Rivera are expected to join the 5th SCTBA – Prima Pasta Open Masters Tournament on March 15-19 at the Puyat Center.

Organizer Nikko Go said the event will see Nepomuceno, the only player to win the World Championship four times in four different eras, as well as the former queen of bowling Coo and Rivera, the world champion in 2004.

Go said Rivera has already confirmed his participation in the event that will have three divisions, mixed open, classified masters and mixed restricted seniors.

Mixed open offers P50,000 to the winner from the P98,500 total purse. The first runner-up gets half of that and the third another half. Prizes are given down to the fifth runner-up.

The classified masters champion will receive P30,000, which is about half of the P61,000 cash prizes it offers. The first runner-up will get P15,000, while the third placer will receive P7,500.

The winner in the mixed restricted seniors will walk home P20,000 the richer. The second and third placers will receive P10,000 and P5,000, respectively.

Handicap for women is slightly higher like in the mixed open where a 201 and up average nets a man zero handicap, compared to the ladies who will get eight points.

The tournament will also give P10,000 for the perfect game, added the younger Go, who is currently the second best bowler here with a 193 average. (With Pigeon Lobien)