The stage is set for the stepladder finals after Orient Watch, Bulacan Knight and Habagat advanced to complete the six-team cast in the Thursday League 11th Season for Sarawat Superstores Cup at the Bowling City in Sultana Center.

Elbowed out of No. 3 during the positioning round, Orient Watch got another chance by qualifying as No. 4 after the knockout game of 3 handicap series for teams that failed to advance to the championship outright.

Bulacan Knight made it as the fifth qualifier and Habagat No. 6. These three teams join waiting No. 1 finalist Sarawat Superstores, Bowling City and D’ Barkads.

The first match of the stepladder will have teams Nos. 4, 5 and 6 slug it out in two games with handicap with the winner to move to the knockout second match against No. 3 D’ Barkads.

The winner of the second match advances to another knockout vs. No. 2 Bowling City to determine the challenger to the top finalist Sarawat for the championship crown. In the championship match the winner in match 2 will chalenge No. 1 in a twice-to-beat format.

Orient Watch beat Bulacan for No. 4 spot by 2 pins, 3, 121 to 3,119. Habagat was uncontested in sixth on 2,982.

Taking charge for the Watch makers was the trio Elo Manalo, Edwin Ronquillo and Obie Ycasas who rolled 626, 605 and 568 in that order.

Contributing two games each were Danny Bautista 195-210, Jay Bengco 213, 209 and Jawett Carion 183-256.

Bulacan had four players going the distance, led by Atoi Cruz on 666 while Cesar Pagtalunan, Andy Yumena and Ding dela Rosa tallied 607, 588 and 573. The remaining three team games were shared by Efren San Pedro 165-202 and Jeff San Pedro 268.

Leading the way at Habagat was Richard Antonio who fired 623 to go with the 574 by Jun de Dios, 569 by Geo Manglaiman, 142-175 by Edu Toledo, 194-223, by Ruel Santoc and 191-211 by Edris Mangoda.