SABB Advance 2012 Interbank Bowling champion

Another year, another winner. The Saudi British Bank Advance Team was declared champion at the recently concluded 2012 Interbank Tenpin Bowlers of Riyadh (ITBR) tournament at the Riyadh InterContinental Hotel Bowling Center.
This year’s championship trophy was closely fought as the accumulated points among the top three contenders were very slim. However, it was SABB Advance, captained by Art Capulong, that made a convincing finale as they narrowly edged the most improved and gallant Alinma Bank Aspire captained by Jojo de Silva by only 108 points during the semifinal and final rounds of the 21-week league among local bank teams in Riyadh.
SABB’s five-man team led by Ahmed Qarqoush, Arnold Jesena, AJ Bonifacion, Sam Alinsod and Jaffer Al Khatiri saved the best for the last game of the match.
First runner-up Alinma Aspire was jubilant for its achievement this season when it outplayed the champion team in the semifinal (290-230) and finals games (210-180). Team captain Jojo de Silva applied his tact in manpower maneuvering with five-mark handicap advantage. He led the trio of Abdulrahman Ahmed and Jerry Barce to produce the much-needed output. Willie Bondoc, Obet Mata and Gelo Train completed the support team.
Another crucial match was between SABB’s sister team SAMA captained by Teody Zulaybar and defending champion PNB Unified captained by Usman Navarro. However, SABB-SAMA team fell short by 127 points for the title after it defeated PNB (290-80).
Banque Saudi Fransi finally grabbed the Team of the Week honor during the final games as it blanked former champion Saudi Hollandi Bank (488-30). Yousef Fernandez took home the final Bowler of the Week honors with his outstanding performance of 852 four-game series.
The champion, runners-up and special awardees received handsome trophies and cash prizes during the awards night at the Marhaba Restaurant in Riyadh. Donors to this year’s awards night include: Sky Freight Forewarders, Alinma Bank, Mobily and Mounir Melliti, recreation manager, InterContinental Hotel Riyadh.
The league committee (Robert “Bobby” Ting, chairman; Froy Garcia, finance director; and Teody Zulaybar, statistician) thanked all the team captains, Interbank bowlers of Riyadh and the participating banks for helping make the event a big success.
Individual and team awardees:
Clash of the Titans (Top 30): Titan King Alfred Estrada (BSF/CBG), first runner-up Sam Alinsod (SABB Advance); second runner-up Ronald Cruz (PNB Unified); Consolation Prizes awarded to AJ Bonifacio (SABB Advance), Obet Mata (Alinma Aspire) and Val Baraquio (SHB)
Most Valuable Player Jaffer Al-Khatiri (SABB Advance), High Individual Average Clem Guelas (SABB-SAMA)
Elite Bowlers: Arnold Jesena (258/288), Song Calub (267), Edwin Timango (253),Sam Alinsod (252), Jaffer Al Khatiri (256) and Arnel Bernabe (255)
Team awards:
High Game Scratch (1062), High Game with Handicap (1085), and High Series Scratch (3698) was won by SABB Advance while High Series with Handicap (3979) – PNB Unified Team
Sportsmanship award Al Inma Bank Teafa’al (team captain Bobby Ting)
Final team standings: Champion SABB Advance 5,108 points, 1st runner-up Alinma Bank Aspire 5,000, 2nd runner-up SABB/SAMA 4,981, 3rd runner-up PNB Unified 4,578,
4th runner-up Banque Saudi Fransi 4,119, 5th runner-up Saudi Hollandi Bank 4,068, 6th Runner-up BSF – CBG 3,140, 7th runner-up Saudi Investment Bank 3,023 8th runner-up Alinma Bank Tefa’al 1,800.