Akiera Sato Bowlers back-to-back Team of the Week

In seventh place two weeks back Akiera Sato Bowlers are, proudly, now in the top four after back-to-back Team of the Week victories in the FTBJ-ICBL 30th Conference bowling tournament at Jeddah Lanes in Mossadia Plaza here.
Sato Bowlers, managed by Maria Jesusa Sato Labuac, completed consecutive awards during the 11th week to become the third team after Cristal Global and Jeddah Lanes to win the race for honors twice in a row.
They even bettered their total points from the previous week to 48, which is the highest thus far in the five-man team Friday afternoon league event.
As interesting was the heated battle for No. 1 between Al Zamil Metal and Jeddah Lanes, which for the second straight week ended the session tied at first place overall on 387.0 running total.
Merlen Pamintuan, the newly crowned ladies singles champion of the 15th GCC Bowling Tour held recently in Kuwait, was the major reason Zamil Metal is still the leader albeit in the company of the host bowlers.
The Metal specialists and Jeddah Lanes both returned 43 points on the day, with Sky Freight-TFC, at No. 3 position in the team standings, on 33 followed by Saudi Diyar Consultants 31 and Kulisap ni Moe 28.
Avengers pooled 27 points in seventh place while Al Watan Décor, D’ Barkads and Hidada Ltd. tallied 26, 25 and 21 in that order. Struggling Cristal Global, which went from third to sixth in a span of three weeks, could only muster 19 points. Pin Slashers and Yanbu Sniper were the last two teams to check in on 13 and 7 points.
The husband-and-wife team of Nap Patayan and Susan Patayan, both playing for Saudi Diyar Consultants, claimed the men’s and ladies Bowler of the Week awards after shooting the high series of 727 and 625 in their divisions.
Akiera Sato knew it had a chance for another shot at the team award after a second-place finish in each of the first two games and sealed its bid by taking first in overall output.
A pair of solid series of 670 and 660 from Marcelo Manalo and Khalid Tailyoni built the foundation of Sato’s team total with Matet Cavite and Edna Bruzette contributing 573 and 542 from the distaff side. Alex Flora carded 198-153 while Ed Labuac added 211.
Zamil, the Game 2 winner, got the result it wanted from a single set of five players led by Victor Pagayon who drilled 650 to go with the 634s by Randy Mata and Rauf, 562 by Pamintuan and 525 by Len-Len Berina.
Over at Jeddah Lanes Paolo Allego and Igna Salgado produced the big numbers of 665 and 620.
Jeanette Cerbito and Marie Gumpal tossed in 603 and 500 while Majid Aslani and Nick Gozun shared the remaining three games of the team on 190-216 and 191. Veteran bowler Rene Santiago led Emy de Guzman’s Sky Freight on 666 with Oca Bernabe and Goying Salazar on 576 and 571. Imelda Sayago had 576 while Yolly Santos and Babes Tiongson added 139-164 and 138.
The other scorers at Saudi Diyar were Nestor Casalma 526, Priz Calidro 477, Fatima Jintarat 163-190 and Sharmaine Patayan 156.
Team standings after the 11th week:
1. Al Zamil Metal 387.0 points 2. Jeddah Lanes 387.0 3. Sky Freight-TFC 365.0 4. Akiera Sato Bowlers 354.0 5. D’ Barkads 343.0 6. Cristal Global 342.5 7. Al Watan Décor 318.0 8. Hidada Ltd. 311.5 9. Kulisap ni Moe 279.0 10. Avengers 265.5 11. Saudi Didyar Consultants 258.0 12. Pin Slashers 251.0 13. Yanbu Sniper 142.5