Rafael "Paeng" Nepomuceno (born January 30, 1957 in Manila) is a six-time World Bowling Champion Filipino bowler. He has won the World Cup of Bowling four times (1976, 1980, 1992 and 1996). Nepomuceno has also won the World's Invitational Tournament in 1984 and the World Tenpin Masters championship in 1999.
| Year | Location | Male Winner | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Tehran, Iran | Paeng Nepomuceno | Philippines |
| 1980 | Jakarta, Indonesia | Paeng Nepomuceno | Philippines |
| 1992 | Le Mans, France | Peang Nepomuceno | Philippines |
| 1996 | Belfast, Northern Ireland | Paeng Nepomuceno | Philippines |
He is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for three records: 1) for most Bowling World cup wins, 2) for being the youngest ever to win the Bowling World Cup (at 19 years of age),[1] and 3) for having won the most number of bowling tournament titles. In total, Paeng has 118 career bowling titles. Paeng who still actively competes up to this day is the only bowling athlete to have won or awarded titles in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
He is the only bowling athlete in the world who has received the prestigious International Olympic Committee President's Trophy and was the first international male bowling athlete to be enshrined in the International Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum based in St. Louis, Missouri in 1993 where his seven foot image is displayed at the Museum's entrance. In November 1999, the Federation Internationale des Quilleurs (FIQ) named Paeng as the "International Bowling Athlete of the Millennium."
In a ceremony held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates during the World Championships, an FIQ official cited Paeng with these words: "No international bowling athlete is more deserving of recognition than Paeng. In addition to his long list of well-known achievements as a world champion in three decades, Paeng truly has been and continues to be an extraordinary ambassador for Filipino sport."
Paeng is the only athlete in the Philippines who has been given the highest award to a Filipino by three Philippine presidents. In 1984, Paeng was awarded the Presidential Medal of Merit by President Ferdinand E. Marcos. In 1999, President Joseph E. Estrada awarded the Philippine Legion of Honor and in 2008, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo awarded Paeng the Order of Lakandula with Class of Champion for Life and was declared Best Filipino athlete of all time. Both the Philippine Senate and House of Congress have declared Paeng the "Greatest Philippine Athlete of All Time".
In its September 2003 issue, the Prestigious Bowlers Journal International named Paeng as the Greatest International Bowler of All Time.
Paeng was named Athlete of the Century by the Philippine Sportswriters Association in the end of 1999 and Athlete of the Millennium in 2000. The Philippine Sportswriters Association has named him Philippine Athlete of the year a record 5 times. He was the first athlete to be inducted in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame in 1993. . Both house of Congress in the Philippines named him "Greatest Filipino Athlete" in 1999.
Paeng bore the Flag of the Philippines in various World Games, Asian Games and the South East Asian Games.
On April 19, 2009 Paeng became the first and only bowling athlete to receive all awards in all categories that the World Bowling Writers gives out. He was the recipient of the World Bowling Writers Mort Luby Jr. distinguished service award for his lifetime contribution to the sport. Paeng was also honored by the World Bowling Writers by naming him World Bowler of the Year three times (1984,1985 and 1992).. He was also the first inductee to the World Bowling Writers Hall of Fame in 1993. His nephews from New York are Angelo and Andre Nepomuceno. Their cousins are JJ, Ate Pam, Jeremy and Johnboi.
He was also a TOYM awardee for sports in 1978 and he is the youngest up to this date to have received this prestigious award given by the Philippine Jaycees.
Nepomuceno was also inducted into the De La Salle University Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
At present Paeng has been designated by the USBC (United States Bowling Congress) as its International Bowling Ambassador for Bowling and promotes bowling around the world and he also Certifies Coaches for USBC.He is still active in competition and only last May 5, 2009, he established a new four game Philippine National Record when he rolled games of 300,299,268 and 256 for a scintillating average of 280.75 per game. He also bowled 23 strikes in a row when he bowled a perfect 300 game followed by a near perfect 299 game.
1. Philippine Open Junior Masters champion, December 1972
2. Coronado Champion of the Year, Tournament, Manila 1973
3. Philippine Bowling Congress Masters Champion, July 1974
4. Japan Junior Masters champion, Kyoto, Japan, April 1975
5. Mindanao Open Masters champion, Davao, Philippines, May 1975
6. National Eliminations Winner (30 games) for the 8th FIQ World Championships, July 1975
7. Surabaya, Indonesia, International Open Masters champion, June 1976
8. Philippine Bowling Congress Masters champion, June 1976
9. FIQ Asian Zone Overall Individual Masters Gold, Jakarta, Indonesia, August 1976
10. 1976 Bowling World Cup champion, Tehran, Iran, November 1976
11. Hong Kong Open International Masters champion, Hong Kong April 1977
12. Bowling Inn Open Masters Champion, Manila, May 1977
13. Surabaya, Indonesia, International Open Masters champion, June 1977
14. Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Cup Masters champion, Taipei, November 1977
15. Kallang, Singapore, International Open Masters champion, December 1977
16. World champions' Showdown in Manila Winner against 1977 World Cup champion Arne Stroem, May 1978, (Won a Toyouta Crown De Luxe Car)
17. World champions' Showdown in Norway against 1977 World Cup champion Arne Stroem, May 1978
18. Philippine International Masters champion, April 1979
19. Bowling World Cup National Finals Champion for Thailand, August 1979
20. National Eliminations (96 games) for the 9th FIQ World Championships, August 1979
21. QCBA Open Masters champion, Quezon City, Philippines, September 1979
22. Kallang, Singapore, International Open Masters champion, December 1979
23. Celebrity Valentine Open Masters champion, Quezon City, Philippines, February 1980
24. Philippine International Open Masters Champion, April 1980
25. MBA-Astrobowl Open Masters champion, Manila, June 1980
26. National champion for 1980 Bowling World Cup National Finals, August 1980
27. Las Pinas Open Masters champion, Rizal, Philippines, October 1980
28. 1980 Bowling World Cup champion, Jakarta, Indonesia, November 1980
29. Malaysian International Open Bowling Championships, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 1981
30. Philippine Open Bowling Congress Masters champion, June 1981
31. Fil-Am Bowling Open Bowling Championships Masters Champion, Clark Air Base Pampanga, Philippines, June 1981
32. SJBA Open Masters champion, Greenlanes, October 1981
33. PBA-Lagerlite Open Masters Champion, Green Valley Country Club, October 1981
34. National Eliminations Winner (120 Games) for Philippine Team for the SEA Games, October 1981(won three gold medals - All Events, Doubles, and Trios in the SEA Games, December 1981
35. CBAD Open Masters champion, Celebrity Sports Plaza, February 1982
36. Philippine International Open Masters champion, Green Valley Country Club, March 1982
37. TBAM Open Masters champion, Coronado Lanes, May 1982
38. MBA Open Masters champion, Celebrity Sports Plaza, August 1982
39. QCBA Open Masters champion, Celebrity Sports Plaza, August 1982
40. Bowling World Cup National Finals Champion for Netherlands, September 1982
41. National Eliminations for Philippine Team for the 7th FIQ Asian Zone Championships, November 1982, Las Pinas Metro Manila. (Won gold medals in All Events and Doubles)
42. CBAD Valentine Open Masters champion, Celebrity Sports Plaza, February 1983
43. All-Star International Open Masters champion, Kulala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 1983
44. National eliminations winner for the Philippine Team to the World FIQ championshipsin Caracas, Venezuela November 1983
45. 4th CBAD Valentine Open Masters champion, Celebrity Sports Plaza, February 1984
46. All-Star International Open Masters champion, Merlin Bowl, Kulala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 1984
47. 1984 South Pacific International Classic, National Champion, Coronado Lanes, Makati, July 20, 1984
48. World's Invitational Bowling Tournament Champion, Sam's Town Lanes, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, August 4, 1984. This tournament was held in conjunction with the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics to showcase the sport of bowling. Participated by the top 24 bowlers in the world according to their rankings in the 1983 World Championships held in Caracas, Venezuela.
49. 20th South Pacific Classic Champion, Bankstown Bowl, Sydney, Australia, August 26, 1984
49a. World Bowling Writers Association World Bowler of the Year for 1984 50. Capitol Bowling Association Open Masters champion, Celebrity Sports Plaza, September 11, 1984
51. Celebrity Cup Open Masters champion, Celebrity Sports Plaza, October 8, 1984
52. Pasig Bowling Association (PBA) Open Masters champion, Green Valley Country Club, October 28, 1984
53. National eliminations winner for the Philippine Team to the Asian FIQ championships to be held Jackie's Bowl, Singapore, November 1984 53a. Won Gold medal in All-Events.
54. 15th Ballmaster International Tournament champion, Tali Bowl, Helsinki, Finland (Europ'e most prestigious individual tournament. 54a. World Bowling Writers World Bowler of the Year most prestigious tournament) January 7, 1985
55. Philippine Bowling Congress National Match Play champion, Green Valeey Country Club, February 3, 1985
56 Grand Slam Champion, First Federal Territory Inter-City Bowling Championships, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, February 15, 1995 (won 5 gold medals in 5 events, Masters, All-Events, Singles, Doubles and Trios)
57. Philippine International Open Masters champion, Green Valley Country Club, April 1985
57a. Masters Finalist, ABC Masters Tournament, Tulsa, Oklahoma,(reached round of 16) USA
58. Philippine Bowling Congress International Match Play champion, Green Valeey Country Club, June 1985
59. Quezon City Bowling Association Masters champion, Celebrity Sports Plaza, August 1985
60. Australia Silver Jubilee tournament, Hurstville Bowl, Sydney, Australia, August 8, 1985
61. Capitol Bowling Association Open Masters champion, Green Valley Country Club, September 1985
62. National champion for 1985 Bowling World Cup National Finals, September 1985
62a. Won two Gold medals in the Southeast Asia (SEA) Games in Doubles and All-Events, Bangkok, Thailand, December 1985)
63. Capitol Bowling Association Open Masters champion, August 1986 (rolled a Philippine record and surpassed the Asian FIQ Record for 15 games scratch score of 3370 and 3490 with bonus during the masters finals of the Capitol Bowling Association Open Held at Celebrity Sports Plaza in August, 1986)
64.Bowling World Cup National Finals Champion, September 1986
65 Tenpin Bowling Association of Subic (TBASCO) Open Masters champion, Subic bay, Olongapo, September 1986
66. 1986 Celebrity Cup Open Masters champion, November 1986
67. National eliminations Winner for the Philippine Team for the World FIQ Championships, in Helsinki, Finland, June 1987
68. Philippine-Guam Championships, Masters champion, Coronado Lanes Makati, July 1987
69. 1987 South Pacific International Classic National Champion, Coronado Lanes, Makati, July 29, 1987
70. Hong Kong International Open Masters champion, Hong Kong, July 29, 1987
71. Quezon City Bowling Association (QCBA) Masters champion, Celebrity Sports Plaza, August 5, 1987
72. National champion for 1987 Bowling World Cup National Finals, August 1987
72a.Won three Gold Medals (Singles, Doubles and All Events) in the 1987 South East Asian games held Jakarta, Indonesia, September 1987
73. Paranaque Tenpin Bowling Association Grand Masters champion, Green Valley Country Club, November 1987
74. Philippine Bowling Congress Masters Champion, December 1987
75. Philippine bowling congress circuit champion of the year 1987
76. Celebrity Tenpin Bowling Association (CTBA) Valentine Masters champion, February 1988
77. Philippine International Open Masters champion, Green Valley Country Club, April 1988
78. Manila Tenpin bowling Association Masters champion, May 1988
79. National champion for 1988 Bowling World Cup National Finals, September 1988
80. Pasig bowling association Masters champion, Green Valley Country Club, October 1988
81. Philippine Bowling Congress Circuit champion of the year 1988
81a. Philippine Olympic Committee Athlete of the Decade Award for bowling, April 1989
82. Manila Tenpin bowling Association (MTBA)Open Masters champion, May 1989
83. National champion for 1989 Bowling World Cup National Finals, September 1989
84. United Arab Emirates International Open Masters Champion, Dubai, October 1989 ( also rolled the first ever perfect 300 games in the United Arab Emirates which was sanctions by the world governing body for bowling - FIQ)
85. Philippine Bowling Congress Open Masters Champion, Green Valley Country Club, June 1990
86. Magallanes Bowling Association Open Masters Champion, (rolled a perfect 300 game) Astrobowl, July 1990
87. Tenin Bowling Association of Paranaque (TBAP) Open Masters champion, Green Valley Country Club, March 1991
88. Philippine Bowling Congress Open Invitational International Masters Champion, Greenlanes, June 1981
89. TCBA Open Masters champion, SM Bowling Center, August 1991
90. TCBA Grand masters champion, SM Bowling Center, August 1991
90 Bowling World Cup National Finals Champion, September 1991
90a. Singles gold Medal Champion, SEA Games, Manila, December 1991
91. Seoul International Invitational Tournament Champion (Championships held among world's best 16 bowlers) beat USA Champion and Bowler of the Year Patrick Healy and Australian champion Ian Bradford in the championship finals, December 1991
92. Tenpin Bowling Association of Paranaque (TBAP) Open Masters champion, Green Valley Country Club, March 1992
93 Magallanes Bowling Association Open Masters Champion, Astrobowl, July,1992 (rolled a 12 gane series of 2808 for an average of 234
94.Bowling World Cup National Finals Champion, September 1992
95. Kuala Lumpur International Open Masters champion, Mirama Bowl, Malaysiaa, October 1992
96. Bowling World Cup champion, Le Mans, France, November 8, 1992
96a. World Bowling Writers World Bowler of the Year for 1992 96. Honored by Guinness World records for being the only athlete to win world titles in bowling in three different decades,70's, 80'and 90's. 97. Tenpin Bowling Association of Makati (TBAM) Open Masters champion, Green Valley Country Club, April 1993
98. Philippine Bowling Congress Open Masters Champion, Green Valley Country Club, June 1993 (also rolled his fifth career perfect 300 games in the masters finals)
99. Bowling World Cup National Finals Champion, September 1993
99a. Bowling World Cup Bent Country Over All Champion in South Africa, December 1993, (given to the country whose athletes have the best combined performance in the tournament together with Arianne Cerdena )</ref>
100. Singapore Super Classic Champion, March 8, 1994
100a. Rolled the first ever perfect sanctioned 300 game at the SM Megamall bowling center during the 1994 METBA Open, April 1994
101. FIQ Asian Zone Masters champion, Agana Guam, July 1994
102. Magallanes Bowling Association Open Masters champion, Astrobowl, August 1994
103. Bowling World Cup National Finals Champion, September 1994
104.Vice President Joseph Estrada Cup Open Masters Champion, Green Valley Country Club, September,1994.
105. SBS Korean International Invitational Open Masters champion,(Championships held among the World's top 16 bowlers. June, 1995. Paeng beat reigning World Cup Champion Tore Torgensen of Norway and Hiroshima Asian Games Masters champion, Hiroshi Yamamoto of Japan
106. Hong Kong International Open Masters champion, Hong Kong June 1995 (Only Bowler to win this tournament 3 Times).
107. Bowling World Cup National Finals Champion, October 1995
108. Genting World Highlands - Malaysia International Open Masters champion, June 1996
109. Bowling World Cup National Finals Champion, 1996
110. Bowling World Cup champion (Northern Ireland) Paeng's 4th World Cup, November 1996
111. The Landmark Santa Claus Open Champion, Victor's Superbowl, Singapore, Nov. 9, 1997
112. Asian Bowling tour (Inaugural Leg Champion), Malysian Masters Cup. MARCH,1998
113. Genting World Highlands International Open Masters Champion, Malaysia, June 1998.
113a.FIQ Asian Zone Gold Medal in All Events, Taiwan, Chnese Taipeh, July,1998.
114. World Tenpin Masters championship in London, England March 7, 1999
114a. Philippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Century
115. Thailand Masters Cup Champion, Asian Bowling Tour, August, 2001,
115a. Philippine Sportwriters Association Athlete of the Millennium
116. Korea Open Masters champion, Pre Asian Games Storm Cup, Busan, Korea, October 2002
116a. Asian Games Gold medal in Doubles event with RJ Bautista, Busan, South Korea, Oct. 4, 2002
117. 10th AMBA-PEPSI Open Masters title in Gameworx in Festival Mall Alabang, Philippines
118. South Pacific Classic Champion, Melbourne, Australia, October 2007
119. National Champion, Bowling World Cup for Melaka, Malaysia, October 2009
Bowling World Cup Sportsman Award, Melaka, Malaysia, November 2009
120. MBA (Magallanes Bowling Association Open Champion, Paeng's Bowl, Robinson Manila Philippines, March 2010