JEDDAH: With 2018 TPF in his 9-game entry in the qualifying round, Romy Antonio topped group CD breaking deadlock with Jett Santos via rule of consistency in the semifinals. Antonio compiled games of 222, 209, 217 and 231 while Santos posted 228, 232, 219 and 190 for an identical 889 handicapped series at the end of 4-game elimination on the Filipino Expatriate Damayan Bowling Group at the Bowling City here.
Topping group AB was Jun Pilipiña with 904 from scratch of 865 from scratch games of 243, 194, 214 and 214. Rudy Punzalan was second with 899 from scratch of 860 from consistent games of 212, 217, 216 and 215. Johnny Macalintal, Mart Lising, Marlon Heredia, Rolly Vistal, Paollo Allegro, Nards Hassan, Efren San Pedro and Sean Balingasa complete the CD finalists while Arhie Santos, Arnold Biblanias, Willie Ansis, Ed Sardiña, Willie Cordero, Toto Lim and Andy Yumena were also AB finalists.
On the 20-bowler race finals Pilipiña jerked contenders with his 253 on the outset. Antonio was in 10th place with 200 while pacing closest was San Pedro with 239 followed by Hassan 230, Sardiña 225 and Yumena 217 in top 5. Santos, Lim, Cordero and Punzalan also blocked Antonio with 211, 205, 203 and 200 in that order. Bettering his game to 215 Antonio accelerated to 7th spot with 415. Pilipiña (451), San Pedro (446) and Sardiña 424 are now joined by Balingasa (420) on the winners cut off while Yumena and Hassan kept striking distance at 416 each.
The last game then was an entertaining show of reserved kegling powers as Antonio who has been a usual calm and patient bowler found his track and pierce through all the obstacles with his 223 scratch. Antonio repeated his Kalayaan Cup performance with a startling final-game show eluding all the barriers and surprised top contenders with his 656 total for the FEDBG Hajj Bowlfest 2009 title.
First-timer Balingasa also shocked contenders as he valiantly battled the veterans with neophyte talent landing first runner-up with 647 on 208 and 203 scratch push on the last two games. Top favorite whosurvived third place with 624 and Yumena endured last berth at 620 disappointing San Pedro who failed the winning column with 619.
Lady winners on this tournament were Aisah Silabay, Bing Baraquel and Myrna Diaz. Top qualifiers on this tournament were LJ Laderas with 2351 (267, 261, 258, 257, 257, 254, 253, 246, 244) in group AB and Jimmy Aragones with 2228 (267, 234, 232, 229, 229, 224, 220, 215, 213) in group CD. Hi-Scratch performers were Ed Sardiña at 288 on AB and Serge Rivera at 267 on CD. - Pips R. Planas
