Nasser Al Hajri clinches FTBJ-ICBL 31st Conference title

For most of the tournament, it was a two-way battle between Nasser Al Hajri and Oryx Jets and it was only fitting both teams were the ones left standing to battle for supremacy.
Holding fast to the end, Nasser Al Hajri turned back challenger Oryx Jets to win the championship crown in the FTBJ-ICBL 31st Conference bowling tournament at Jeddah Lanes here.
With a twice to beat edge in the championship match top seed Nasser was forced to use up this advantage after Oryx Jets won convincingly at 993-935.
In the finale, Nasser edged Oryx 912-904 in a tight battle that went Nasser’s way after Majid Aslani failed to spare the last frame of his eventual 203 game.
The first match in the stepladder final on the final week of the competition was the three-team shootout that Jem Strikers won over Avengers and Oriana Akiera Sato. Jem carded 976 while Avengers had 970 and Oriana 934.
Up against No. 4 finalist Hidada in the second match, Jem Strikers were stopped in their tracks. The scoreline was 986-902 to Hidada.
Hidada then eliminated No. 3 Sky Freight-TFC 1,002-830 in the suceeding match.
With momentum on its side Hidada was looking to go all the way. It was not to be after No. 2 Oryx won the Hidada match 980-956 thanks to Paulo Allego who had a solid pocket hit on the 10th frame leaving only the No. 9 pin standing for a crucial 289.
The stage was now set for the Nasser-Oryx final showdown.
With 200 games from the trio Rolly Vistal 220, Aslani 212 and Allego 206, Oryx kept alive its challenge by winning at 993-935.
In the end breaks decided this, the final installment of the rivalry between the league’s top two teams. Zaldy Bacero top-scored for Nasser in the decisive game on 201 with Randy Mata on 199. Cesar Monares contributed 170 and from the distaff side Merlen Pamintuan had 160 and Len-Len Berin was below her average at 128.
Besides Aslani’s 203 Oryx got 186 from Vistal, 178 from Allego, 141 from Marie Gumpal and 137 from Jeanette Cerbito.
Final team standings:
Nasser Al Hajri champion, Oryx Jets 1st runner-up, Hidada Ltd 2nd runner-up., Sky Freight-TFC 3rd runner-up, Jem Strikers 5th place, Avengers 6th place, Oriana Akiera Sato 7th place, Kulisap ni Moe 8th place, D’ Barkads 9th place, Pin Slashers 10th place, Taurus RDLR 11th place, Lance & 3rdy 12th place