JEDDAH: Saudi Master Baker upheld its No. 1 ranking to win the championship crown against unlikely challenger Spike GBI in the Thursday Bowling League 15th Season at Bowlling City lanes here.

A veteran move by team captain Igna Salgado after Master Baker lost its twice to beat edge made the difference in the championship match that saw GBI nearly pull off a scintillating triumph via the backdoor.

In the first match of the stepladder finals, Spike GBI bested BCT For Yooo and Carling Sport Wear in the three-team two-game series with handicap knockout to advance against No. 3 finalist D’ Barkads. GBI tallied 2,084 pinfalls, BCT compiled 2,065 and Carling 1,935.

Against D’ Barkads, GBI won its second straight match 1,027-967 thanks to a slew of 200 games from Rey Beltran 236, Tope Sayson 235 and Fadi Al Hadad 209.

Then GBI earned the right to challenge Saudi Master Baker for the title when it took down defending champion and No. 2 Habagat. The scoreline was 1,051-987 to GBI which drew 257 and 244 from Beltran and Nezar Al Hamwe, 181 Fadi Al Hadad, 172 from Sayson and 171 from Ding Dela Rosa.

Salgado’s charges were cooling their heels while GBI was going about the business of mowing down its opponents one by one.

That was probably the reason Master Baker lost the first game of the championship match at 985-912. The scorers were Beltran 206, Sayso 202, Al Hamwe 197, Al Hadad 187, and dela Rosa 167 for GBI, and Salgado 222, Alfa Mugawan 185, Gerry Mandanas 182 and Mohd. Al Amri 143 for Master Baker.

Unperturbed, Salgado shuffled his quintet for the decisive finale.

Jowett Carrion and Jay-R de Dios responded after being called by Igna as Saudi Master Baker finall sealed the deal 1,007 to 946 pinfalls.

Carrion shot 226 and de Dios 208 to go with the 233 by Salgado, 155 by Rey Feliciano, and 146 by Alfa Mugawan.

GBI, which came within a game of pulling off a come-from-behind victory, had Beltran on 210, Dela Rosa 200, Al Hamwe 190, Al Hadad 170 and Sayson 150.