JEDDAH, 12 May 2005 — Hashim Guinomla rolled the first perfect 300 game at Jeddah Lanes — and the fourth of his career — in a surprise but most welcome news that greeted the start of the FTBJ (Filipino Tenpin Bowlers of Jeddah) Open Conference.

Arguably one of the best Filipino bowlers in the Kingdom, Guinomla shot 12 strikes in a row using a 15-pound Columbia Wicked ball during the first of three games he logged in National Commercial Bank’s 29.5 points off total pinfalls of 2,895.

Guinomla was just playing along until he realized 300 was on cards after stringing seven straight strikes.

After yet another strike on the 10th frame, his fellow bowlers paused and two frames later went wild in jubilation over Guinomla’s rare feat.

“I took two deep breaths, calmed my nerves and felt good after I released the ball that hit the target,” said Guinomla of his latest 300. His first 300 came in 2000 and the second and third in 2002.

Nearly lost in the glare of Guinomla’s exploits, for which he was given SR1,000 cash prize on the spot by the overjoyed Jeddah Lanes manager, was the Sarawat Superstore’s clinching of the Team of the Week award in the first week of the FTBJ’s three-months long Saturday five-man team filler league.

Sarawat hit the top tally of 43 points on total pinfalls of 3,025. At the vanguard of Sarawat’s fluent display were FTBJ top honchos Igna Salgado and Rally Zamora who carded 662 and 657 respectively.

Manny Tibay and Val Magsino were both solid with 597 and 586, while Angel Decena added 523 in Sarawat’s opening-week haul.

MC Hammer were on second place with 42.5 points and total pinfalls of 3,007 built by the quintet of Jess Pineda, Nap Patayan, Mar Cabrera, Edwin Ronquuillo and Rico Neri.

They shot respective three-game series of 633, 597, 594, 592 and 591. Insektoo compiled 40 points and total pinfalls of 2,968 thanks to Dhads Gueco, Fred Mangondato, Zaldy Parinas, Patrick Escondo and Espin Timbayan who rolled 672, 621, 586, 566 and 523 in that order.

Host Jeddah Lanes carded total pinfalls of 2,963 for 36 points as Jaffer Al Katheri and Ghassan Al Masri fired 619 and 618 to go with the 599 by Anwar Khalid, 589 by Wadee Mohd. And 538 by Naif Bakheet.

Guinomla finished with 673 but NCB could only finish in a tie with House of Donut who totaled 2,896 pinfalls.

Right in front at 34 points were Al Nada who compiled total pinfalls of 2,954 which included the high series of 686 by Danny Bautista.

Team standings after the first week:

1.Sarawat 43 points 2.MC Hammer 42.5 3.Insektoo 40 4.Jeddah Lanes 36 5.Al Nada 34 6.House of Donut 29.5 7.NCB 29.5 8.Sky Freight Forwarders 26 9.Saudi Diyar 24 10.Tetra Pak 17 11.NPS 17 12.Kulisap 14 13.Al-Mottawer 10.5.