In the end, the form team of the tournament took it all as Al Kabeer Frozen Foods justified its top ranking by winning the championship crown in the Thursday League 12th Conference for Globe Cup at the Bowling City in Sultanah Center here.

Enjoying a twice to beat privilege, Al Kabeer abruptly ended the ambition of challenger Habagat, the No. 3 finalist which had won two matches prior to its matchup with the No. 1 team.

Against Al Kabeer, however, Habagat never had a chance as it suffered defeat by 68 pins, 990-922 pinfalls, in the championship match.

The Al Kabeer victory completed a championship double for team captain Igna Salgado who also steered Purefoods Hotdog to the FTBJ-ICBL 34th Conference title.

The first match of the stepladder finals had Al Murjana winning the two games with handicap series knockout against Jeddah 5KKB and Lifebuoy. Murjana tallied 1,834 pinfalls, 5KKB returned 1,817 and Lifebuoy 1,807.

The result set up a Murjana-Habagat clash that Habagat won 1,013-930.

Habagat was to win another match, 958-924 against second seed Advance Co. Engineers 958-924 mainly behind the 216 by Jimmy Aragones and 201 by Edu Toledo to earn a shot at the waiting Al Kabeer.

Two down, two to go in its quest for the grand prize, Habagat might have been unable to handle the mounting pressure as its score indicated. Habagat’s score of 922 paled in comparison to the team earlier totals of 1,013 and 958.

Al Kabeer enjoyed a trifecta of 200s from Jay-R de Dios 213 Salgado 210, and Gerry Mandanas 203.

Mohamad Al Amri and Jowett Carrion added 184 and 180 as Al Kabeer scuppered the hopes of Habagat, which only had one 200 game courtesy of Toledo on 206. The other Habagat scorers were Geo Mangaliman 197, Richard Antonio 189, Aragones 176 and Med Ramos 154.

League organizer Salgado said he would like to thank Mobily Filipino community coordinator Rannie Basanta for facilitating the league sponsorship.

He said the 13th Conference dubbed Sarawat Superstores Bowling League rolls off 6:30 p.m. today. The Sarawat sponsorship of the tournament coincides with the 35th anniversary celebration of the popular supermarket chain.

Final team standings

Champion Al Kabeer Frozen Foods, 1st runner-up Habagat, 2nd runner-up Advance Co. Engineers, 4th place Al Murjana, 5th placce Jeddah 5KKB, 6th place Lifebuoy, 7th place D’ Barkads, 8th place Bulacan Knight, 9th place Alliance in Motion Global