WITH former World Cup bowling champion CJ Suarez at the helm, the SM Lifestyle and Entertainment, Inc. is on the lookout for future champions.

Suarez, only the second Filipino World Cup champion next to Paeng Nepomuceno, graced yesterday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s Malate and bared the SMLEI sports calendar.

Suarez, 36, the 2003 PSA Athlete of the Year, said sports development is a continuing effort by the SMLEI and the SM Group as a whole.

“We’re here to help develop sports, pool talents and find future champions for the Philippines,” he said.

“The SMLEI is for sports development,” he added, naming bowling, ice hockey, figure skating, and short speed skating as the disciplines currently under their radar.

Suarez, now head of the SMLEI sports development, was accompanied by SMLEI public relations manager, Stephanie Henares in the public sports program presented by San Miguel Corp., Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

The last six months of the year, he said, will be very busy months for SMLEI with the staging of the first SM Seniors Cup in September, the Inter-Collegiate Bowling Championships in October, and the second SM Millionaire’s Bowling Cup in November and October.

For skating, lined up are the Asian Speed-Skating Trophy in September and the Philippine National Figure Skating Championship in November, and also the first Philippine Ice Hockey Championship in November.