Bobby Baraquel trailed Edris Mangoda after the first game but recovered brilliantly in Game 2 to take the title while Aileen Miralbuna led by much as five marks over Aisah Silabay that cushioned her victory after her last game turned sour in the Kalayaan Cup bowling tournament at the Bowling City here.
The Filipino Expatriate Damayan Bowling Group (FEDBG) organized the one-day event with support from Orient Provision Trading Company through Brand Manager Robert Bato.
Qualified last in Class B where Edu Toledo was the topnotcher, Baraquel with 215 outlasted Arnel Digap who rolled 204 during the one-game four-bowler shootout.
Ruel Santoc and Ernie Geslani each had 160 each. The sojourn almost ended against Toledo, but Baraquel was luckily saved by the former’s miss to be the Class B leader at 172-165 to face Roger Daquioag, Edward Botardo and Mangoda in the finals.
Daquioag won over Joel Nidoy 221-196, Botardo triumphed over class C top qualifier Jimmy Mandingiado at 202-182 and Mangoda halted Med Ramos at 173-167.
Initial game of the two-game finals went to Mangoda who fired 236 to be well ahead of Baraquel, Daquioag and Botardo who carded 217, 183 and 172 in that order.
Baraquel traded marks with Mangoda and Daquioag till he managed to pull away with six baggers in a fantastic offense that made him the new Kalayaan Cup champion with two-game series of 458 including his endgame of 241.
Mangoda’s 217 gave him second place at 453, while Daquioag (210 on the last game) and Botardo settled third and fourth on 393 and 369 respectively.
Seeded to the finals, Miralbuna (825) and May Lourdes (849) were met by Aisah Silabay and Shirley Sagmit who respectively outlasted Class AB Sally Sañosa, Ester Santoc and Cora Agas and Class CD Mariz Resano, Christine Esperancilla and Grace Funtilon in the one-game shootout.
Miralbuna then opened a huge lead with her 232 to the 201, 189 and 173 of Silabay, Sagmit and Lourdes.
But errors and horrible shots had threatened to melt Miralbuna’s lead as Sagmit mounted a challenge till the ninth frame of the ultimate game.
Thanks to the last-frame mark, Miralbuna escaped defeat by four pins at 386-382 and put away ladies title. She closed with a 154 leaving Sagmit at first runner-up. Silabay and Lourdes claimed third and fourth with 378 and 358 respectively.
All winners received packs of Makati Foods from Bato.
