JEDDAH: Defending champion Hidada Ltd. could not hope to topple runaway No. 1 Ekis Reload but a top three is within reach as it clinched Team of the Week honors during the 16th session in the FTBJ-ICBL 36th Conference bowling tournament at the Bowling City here.

Hidada finished on 45 points ahead of everyone else in another spirited race for points in the Friday afternoon league into the last few weeks of eliminations.

Pinslashers, co-Team of the Week in the last outing with Sagmit Dental Clinic and Ekis Reload, tallied 42 points in second place on the day followed by Ekis 35, D’ Barkads 34 and JP Gilas 1 and Cristal Rock n Roll, which tied on 33 points.

Sagmit Dental Clinic was alone on 31 points, good for 7th place while Zekiesha and Patsamba compiled 30 and 26 points respectively. Sky Freight OSN was on 23 points with Sadafco, Saudia Ice Cream and United Doctors the last three teams on 16, 12 and 4.

The award was the second for Hidada, which created a huge impact in the tournament when it recorded the only grand slam thus far on the way to its breakthrough Team of the Week accolade during the 9th week.

Amro Al Amri made it a Hidada double when he put away the men’s Bowler of the Week award after shooting the high series of 718 on lines of 194, 278 and 246. Evelyn Santoc of Sagmit Dental Clinic and was the ladies and Bowler of the Week on 657.

Besides Amro Aisah Silabay and Lenlen Berina returned full games of 602 and 564, with two games each from Cesar Monares 187-208, Wilson Triguero 235-202 and team manager Nanding Siasoco 227-193.

Pinslashers built their team score from a five-man rotation led by Roger Daquioag on 664. May Lourdes and Matet Cavite contributed 648 nad 592 from the distaff side, while Daryl Laquias made 608 and Rommel Agbayani 580.

Ekis, set to finish at No. 1 barring a major disaster, was led by Zaldy Bacero on 669. Faisal Relativo added 598, Fadi Al Haddad 592 and from the ladies side Malu Gime constructed 598 and Alma Bacero posted 582.

Ed Sardiña shot the third-best score of 687 at the helm of D’ Barkads and he was supported by Thess Grandia 622, Cherryl Tibay 618, Rally Zamora 580, Leo Edejer 181-167 and Manny Tibay 153.

Paolo Allego’s 692 was bettered only by Amro’s 718 as he led the Gilas charge where Lourdes Punzalan was the only other player to cross 600 on 637. Jun de Dios came through with 586 to go with the 178-175 by Rene Punzalan and 170 by Marlon Bernabe.

Cristal had the trio of Ruben Grino, Jojie Manalansan and Eloisa Fernandez cracking 600 on 632, 631 and 608. Rounding out the Cristal scorers were Aileen Miralbuna 531, Jayson Castillo 169-182 and Jay Bengco 213.

Team standings after the 16th week:

1. Ekis Reload 585.5 2. Pinslashers 569.5 3. Sagmit Dental Clinic 532.5 4. Hidada Ltd. 501.0 5. Zekiesha 494.0 6. Saudia Ice Cream 484.0 7. Sadafco Ice Cream 484.0 8. Cristal Rock n Roll 444.0 9. D’ Barkads 444.0 10. JP Gilas 2 435.5 11. Patsamba 413.0 12. Sky Freight-OSN 412.5 13. UDH Fire Bowlers 115.0