RIYADH, 1 February — Defending champions Stinger began a spirited defense of their title by clinching the Team of the Week title in the opening week of the Sabado Nights Bowling League 2002 14th Conference at the Al Khozama Bowling Center here.
The inaugurals of the five-man team Saturday league event also saw the debut of two potentially strong teams in RBC Patriots and BESA, increasing the field to 11. The double round-robin tournament will run up to mid August.
The Stinger of Boy Fogata bowled pretty well to beat T.J. Bowlers 3-1 in the process notching the week’s best tally of 4,037 pinfalls. T.J., captained by Ernie Aquino, returned total pinfalls of 3,647. BESA, captained by Rolly Bermundo, made quite an impact when it shot the week’s second best output of 3,936 in a 2-2 draw with Al Alamiah Insektos of Romy Cruz (3,724).
The rest of the matches ended in draws: Samsco (3,695) against RBC Patriots (3,581) and OJ & The Hotshots (3,657) against Quadro (3,656). Veteran Ernee Noto delivered the telling blows for Stinger, putting together a sparkling series of 847 on rounds of 232, 184, 210 and 221. Art Palustre, Dennis Buen and Ricky Simbulan made valuable contributions with 789, 778 and 747 in that order, while Fogata rounded out the Stinger scoring with 648. Boyet Paguio made BESA’s day all the more fulfilling when he nailed the Bowler of the Week award after firing the high series of 858 on lines of 191, 201, 182 and 244. Besides Paguio, the others who built BESA’s impressive total were Gener Avis with 799, Freddie Base with 776, Clem Guelas with 701 and Rene Pajimola with 672. Samsco is again captained by league chairman Dick Marcelino, the RBC Patriots by Rommel Romano, OJ & The Hotshots by Jorge Ordona, Quadro by Rene Estrada, Pinmowers by Nigel Bennett, Ball Innovations by Fred Zacarias and Bowl for Fun by Billy Baladiong.
