AL KHOBAR, 8 February — Ace bowler and 300 perfect game holder, Elmer Bonifacio captured the championship crown in the recently-concluded finals of the prequalifying tournament organized by Filbowler at the Algosaibi Bowling Center. Ed "Tiger" Mendoza took the runner-up position. Bonifacio scored an average of 202 pinfalls in the 10-game series with lane movement every game.
Bonifacio rolled 176, 145, 231, 197, 181, 256, 194, 172, 235, and 234 for a total pinfalls of 2,021 besting Jess "Dr. J." Villanueva, the 2nd placer prior to the stepladder match, by 97 pinfalls. Jess logged 1924 pinfalls with an average score of 192. He scored 195, 159, 171, 224, 235, 202, 173, 189, 200, and 176 in the grueling 5 ½-hour finals. Coming very close to the duo is Ed "Tiger" Mendoza. Tiger roared throughout the games with scores of 177, 194, 175, 190, 201, 206, 169, 199, 204, and 199 for a total pinfalls of 1,914 only 10 pins shy from Dr. J’s 1,924 pinfalls.
According to Tiger, "it ain’t over yet!" Tiger is back! Ed is no stranger in the bowling circuit – a Champion of the many previous open tournaments held in Algosaibi. Tiger was one of the delegates to the 4th GCC All Filipino Bowling Tournament held in Bahrain in 2000. Ask bowling aficionados the likes of Bobo de Guzman and Noli Ritual, and they will tell you who Ed "Tiger" is. Tiger rolls his ball, a 14 lbs APEX Columbia, unto the lanes with precision and style!
The rest of the finalists who made it to the Top 10 are the following: Rocky "Idol" Tan, 1,913; Egay "Idol2" Aquino, 1,900; Alfred Fajardo, 1,890; Jimmy Lezarda, 1,877; Cesar Pagharion, 1,869; Gary Busaing, 1,865; and Ely Soberano, 1,865.
In the Stepladder Match, the penultimate round of the finals came during the stepladder match. In the first ladder, Egay, Rocky and Tiger seared the lanes with all their strength and vigor. Ed emerged as the winner with a towering score of 212 pinfalls. Rocky and Egay took the 4th and 5th final positions, respectively. The next match between Ed and Jess was equally exciting and full of energy. Dr. J did his best with his magical wrister (patent pending) but Ed prevailed with a score of 191 against Dr. J’s 182. This enabled Ed to face the top qualifier in a twice-to-beat challenge. The outcome of the match between Ed and Bonifacio put all the bowlers in awe as they watched the two seasoned bowlers displayed their form and style and unquestioned skill in sparing no pin every time their balls roll out the lanes. The result was a hair-line finish for Elmer besting Ed by just one pin in a score of 208 against Ed’s 207 – an exciting match indeed! Ace bowler Bonifacio was awarded a gift certificate worth SAR 2,000 while Ed took the runner-up prize worth SAR 1,000. Dr. J. got SAR 750, Rocky, SAR 500 and Egay, SR250 worth of gift certificates, respectively.
2002 Haj Goodwill Games bowlfest update
Total 34 teams have confirmed for the tournament. Bowlers from Asir, Jeddah, Riyadh and the host area, Al Khobar will be seeing action at the Algosaibi bowling lanes for three (3) days competition starting from Feb. 22 to 24.
