JEDDAH: GBI-TBBGI pulled the rug from under fancied teams to claim Team of the Week award during the 10th session in the OSN-FTBJ 50th Open Conference bowling tournament at the Bowling City here.

Long languishing in the cellar, Tope Sayson’s GBI found a reason to cheer by putting together one solid game to remember that gave it the coveted accolade for the first time.

It was not even close — GBI compiling 44.5 points and the nearest team, BCT-Lutong Pinoy, finishing on 39.

Three-time champion and previous week honoree Sky Freight-OSN pooled 36.5 points in third place but then Emy de Guzman’s team did not go home empty-handed thanks to Pancho Cuevas who captured the Bowler of the Week award.

Habagat and Alfa-Moe Yasser followed Sky Freight on 33 and 30 points.

Bank AlJazira Fawri fell short of the 30 points mark on 28 with Al Murjana on 27.

Masaken and Red Dragons tied on 18.5. D’ Barkads, MC Hammer and Xtreme-Taurus were the last three to check in on 15, 13 and 9 points in that order.

GBI rode the momentum of a fast start to separate from the pack, going first-third-second in the three games and first in overall output.

Team captain Sayson led from the front, shooting 697 on lines of 220, 191 and 223. Alex Duma backed up Sayson on 613, Cesar Sacramed tallied 604 and Tommy Kamal added 594 for GBI, which had Ric Tibayan and Fadi Al Haddad tossing in 201-151 and 158 for the team’s remaining three games.

Lutong Pinoy kept the faith in the single set of five players headed by Ed Sardiña on 637. Nezar Al Hamwe added 634 to go with the 603 by Paul Antiporda, 602 by Igna Salgado and 570 by Mohd. Al Amri.

Cuevas shot the high series of 722 on games of 255, 236 and 213 while leading the Sky Freight onslaught that saw rounds of 603 from Goying Salazar, 561 fom Nanding Siasoco, 557 from James Galvan, 166-186 from Rene Santiago and 185 from Bonnie Garcia.

Over at Habagat, George Mangaliman drilled the top score of 644 followed by Richard Antonio 608 and Rommel Cagampang 553. Contributing two games each were Edris Mangoda 172-148, Manny Tibay 154-158 and Med Ramos 204-180.

Rally Zamora and Obie Ycasas fired 597 and 569 at the helm of Alfa-Moe with the rest of the contributions from Abdul Mugawan 174-166, Yasser Hokbi 189-176, Nonie Yap 195-227, Danny Bautista 176-184 and Benjie Cils 188.

Bank AlJazira employed a six-man rotation with the trio of Jowet Carion, Randy Mata and Ariel Urquia on 595, 583 and 577. Atoi Cruz came through with 166-160, Lorenz Santos had 154-144 and Bing Amolo reuturned 213-187.

Murjana got a big lift from Ruel Santoc and Archie Santos who made 648 and 632 respectively.

Team standings after the 10th week:

1. Sky Freight-OSN 362.5 points 2. BCT-Lutong Pinoy 326.0 3. MC Hammer 288.0 4. Al Murjana 282.5 5. Alfa Moe Yasser 276.5 6. Xtreme-Taurus 275.5 7. Habagat 256.5 8. D’ Barkads 245.5 9. Bank AlJazira Fawri 216.0 10. Masaken 212.5 11. Red Dragons 194.0 12. GBI-TBBGI 189.0