JEDDAH: Al Murjana ended a two-week swing in the lead by Habagat, reclaiming the lead for the second time after it clinched its second Team of the Week award during the 9th session in the Sarawat Superstores Thursday Bowling League 13th Season at the Bowling City in Sultanah Center.

The last time Murjana claimed honors was when it finished a point shy of the perfect score of 36 during the 6th week that enabled it to reclaim from Habagat the league leadership the team first tasted on the third week.

With 32 points this time it was the same Habagat team that got booted out of the lead by Murjana in what is increasingly shaping up as a two-way battle for supremacy between the sides.

Magnolia Ice Cream, the defending champion which won the last conference title as the Al Kabeer Frozen Foods, was four points adrift on 28 with D’ Barkads four points further back in third place with 24.

BCT-Hokbi Fashion compiled 22.5 points to be in fourth position on the night with Sawary Energy on 18, RJ Tumbador 16, Habagat 14.5, Carling Sport Wear 13 and AL Striker 12.

From Magnolia came the individual Bowler of the Week awardee in Mohd. Al Amri who rolled the high series of 669 on lines of 186, 269 and 190.

Murjana used a fast start to win the first two games and cushion a comedown in the third game that saw it finish in fifth for mere 5 points, before sealing the deal by coming up with the top overall output on 3,036 for another first-place points of 9.

At the helm of Murjana was skipper Rene Ocampo who led from the front to score the night’s second best of 664. Archie Santos and Ruel Santoc fired 610 and 655 to back up Ocampo, while contributing two games each were Jojie Manalansan 190-192, Jay Bengco 204-223 and August Tendinero 192-157.

Al Amri led a five-man team attack for Magnolia with team captain Igna Salgado on 619, Bandr Al Dosary 584, Daryl Loquias 570 and Jay-R de Dios 514.

The D’ Barkads trio of Obie Ycasas, Ed Sardiña and Rudy Valenzuela took charge for their team on 604, 594 and 558 to go with the 547 by Romy Bunagan, 168-185 by Dan Ednave and 213 by Leo Edejer.

Yasser Hokbi matched Ocampo’s 664 to show the way at BCT-Hokbi which drew 584 and 566 from Rey Beltran and Nanding Siasoco, 487 from Nezar Al Hamwi, 177-213 from Rally Zamora and 186 from Frank Afurong.

Team standings after the 9th week:

1. Al Murjana 216.0 points 2. Habagat 214.5 3. Sawary Energy 205.5 4. Magnolia Ice Cream 200.0 5. D’ Barkds 196.0 6. BCT-Hokbi Fashion 181.0 7. Carling Sport Wear 153.5 8. RJ Tumbador 143.5 9. AL Striker 116.5