Bautista, Bernabe Masters champs in STC-UFTBR Kalayaan Cup

Ronald Bautista, one of the top-notch bowlers in Riyadh, bagged the men’s Masters title in the STC-UFTBR 2012 Kalayaan Cup held over the weekend at the Universal Bowling Center (UBC) here.
It was a come-from-behind victory for Bautista as he barely made the five-bowler cut to play the championship rounds.
He was, however, steady and superb in the clutches, beating the rest of the finalists in four successive games including two games against top finalist Ernee Noto. Rounding out the men’s winners were Ben Torrefiel fourth runner up, Zaldy Torres third runner-up, Fernie Ballano second runner-up and the multititled Noto, who had to settle for first runner this time.
In the ladies Masters event, veteran Ellen Bernabe has a much easier path to the crown, topping the grueling 6-game elimination round and needing only a single victory to bag the title. Beth Danganan took the first runner-up plum, with Ruby Urrutia second Rosielle Borre third and Ian Choco fourth runner-up.
La Solidaridad composed of Armin Isles, Rico Feria, Art Yukong and Ballano bagged the team event title, with the first runner-up going to La Liga Filipinos (Bautista, Edwin Atienza, Rudy Usudan and Joel Batolina), second runner-up to La Propaganda (Jun Macarandan, Torres, Jojo Gabriel and KC Enriquez), third runner-up to Aiste Masu (Benny Mondoy, Johnny Pencilla, Joel Lambo and Cheng Herosa) and fourth runner-up to Bonifacio at Katipuneras (Lulu Quejada, Arnold Jesena, Lanidela Cruz and Danganan).
The doubles crown went to the tandem of Torres and Gabriel with Quejada and Jesena at second and Isles and Ballano at third place. The men’s singles trophy went to Jojo Paciano with Bautista and Noto at second and third respectively, and the ladies singles crown to Quejada. Danganan placed second and Heidee Urbano third.
The men’s all-events title was bagged by Noto with Torres and Yukong at second and third while the ladies all-events winners were Danganan (champion), Quejada (second) and Rina Labo at third. The team all-events winners were La Solidaridad (first place), La Propaganda (second), Bonifacio at Katipuneras (third), Libertad (fourth) and Fort Santiago (fifth)
Saudi Telecom Company (STC) the main sponsor of the event provided the official event uniform, mobile phones and various gift items. Etihad Airways donated two return air tickets to Manila for the Masters champions and Al-Tayyar Travel Group also gave another Manila ticket which was won by Hani Al-Nashli in the raffle.
The bowling center was packed with the 340 participants and their families, supporters and spectators who were endlessly treated with refreshments and snacks courtesy of House of Donuts, Gandour Chocolates, Pinoy Sherbetes, Al Safi Danone, NADEC, McDonald’s and Fathi Abdulaziz. Other sponsors which donated gift items were Forever Living and Alinma Bank.
Ambassador Ezzedin Tago graced the closing and awarding ceremonies and greeted Filipinos on the celebration of the Philippine Independence Day and Migrant Workers Day. Also present during the event were the country’s representatives of Etihad Airways, Aiyaz Khot, country manager Central Province, and Fahad Fervez, marketing coordinator, who were impressed by the huge crowd of bowlers and supporters they promised to continue supporting and sponsoring UFTBR’s (Unified Filipino Tenpin Bowlers of Riyadh) future bowling leagues and events.
Noto, UFTBR chairman, and Cesar De Mesa, the event chairman, would like to thank sponsors, participating teams and individual donors for their support and generosity and of course the event committees and volunteers for their tireless efforts in making the event a big success.