Bea Hernandez kept the country’s medal hopes alive in the 19th Asian Youth Bowling Championships by qualifying for the grueling girls' masters division that began Friday at Coronado Lanes at EDSA Starmall in Mandaluyong.

Hernandez, who combined with Nina de Vera in copping the doubles bronze Tuesday, finished among the top 16 in the masters division Thursday by placing 14th overall with a cumulative score of 3439 in the tournament organized by the Philippine Bowling Federation and sanctioned by the Asian Bowling Federation and World Bowling.

Adding up her tallies in the girls' singles (1071), doubles (1241) and team (1127) events over 18 games, she averaged 191.17 pinfalls in the meet.

The 17-year-old Saint Poveda College senior high schooler will join 15 others in the two-day, 16-game masters eliminations.

”It will be a big challenge for Bea since her rivals are more experienced. But I have faith in her as long as she remains focused and doesn’t lose her cool,” national girls squad coach Jojo Canare said.

Hernandez will also see action with the national senior squad in the world championships in Las Vegas next month.

She became the last local bet standing after Ivan Malig dropped out of the Magic 16 in the boys' division, finishing 18th with an aggregate output of 3618.

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