Biboy Rivera, right, and Apple Posadas pose with their trophies after topping their respective divisions in the bowling World Cup eliminations last Saturday. They will represent the country in the World Cup finals on October 15-24 in Toulon, France.

Former world champion Biboy Rivera and Apple Posadas, a rising star in the local bowling firmament, struck hard at the right time Saturday to win the national men’s and ladies’ titles and earn trips to the 2010 Quibica AMF World Cup international finals on October 15-24 in Toulon, France.

“I’m happy because it has been my long-time goal to compete in the (World Cup) international finals,” said the 36-year-old Rivera shortly after blasting multi-titled Paulo Valdez 2-0 (243-235, 249-175) in the men’s finals at the Mall of Asia Center in Pasay City.

He added that his BWC outing would serve as a good preparation for his participation in the Asian Games in China.

Apple Posadas, a national bowler like Rivera, was likewise jubilant though a bit sad that she had to earn her first BWC stint at the expense of her younger sister, Lara.

Apple whipped Lara without any trouble, 2-0 (188-157 and 247-177), in the ladies’ finals.

Rivera and Apple Posadas breezed through the last eight games of the tourney with sizzling averages of 233.97 and 212.11, respectively.

Rivera, a businessman and a national player for 11 years who bagged the world title four years ago, submitted a 32-game score of 7487, while Apple carded a 28-game total of 5939.

Valdez nipped Joonee Gatchalian, 2-0 (203-202 and 238-212) while Lara subdued Krizziah Tabora, 2-1 (185-175, 190-199 and 187-178) to advance to the finals.