For the longest time, Sky Freight Forwarders have ruled the Saturday bowling leagues like no one else can.

The recently concluded Qatar Airways-AFTBL 48th Open Conference was no exception.

After becoming the waiting No. 1 finalist Sky Freight, with a twice to beat privilege, disposed of challenger Jeddah Lanes in the championship match to the delight of team manager the affable Emy de Guzman.

The final results went according to form book, with the the top three seeds at the end of the eliminations keeping their places in the competition.

The first stepladder match was between three teams from the playoff that qualified as Nos. 4, 5 and 6 in MC Hammer, Habagat and Bank AlJazira.

MC Hammer won the shootout thanks mainly to Zaldy Bacero 208 and Amro Al-Amri 202 only to lose in the next match against No. 3 AFM-Moe 991-958.

The AFM-Moe win behind the efforts of Ding Dela Rosa 252, Nonie Yap 236, Wilson Triguero 185 and Danny Bautista 183 set up a clash between the third seed and second seed teams.

Again, the higher seeded team won with No. 2 Jeddah Lanes beating AFM 988-809. Leading the host team’s charge was the trio of Majid Aslani 214, Frank Afurong 202 and Rudy Valenzuela 201. Igna Salgado added 186 and Paolo Allego 185.

In the championship match Sky Freight never gave Jeddah Lanes a chance. The scoreline was 1,040-975 to Sky Freight.

All five players of Sky Freight bettered their averages in a display of ruthless efficiency with veteran Cris Villavelez, who played off a 192 average, leading the way on 237.

Bonnie Garcia added 214 while Goying Salazar, who had the highest average on the roster with 197, shot 202 to go with the 194 by James Galvan and 193 by Oca Bernabe.

Salgado carded a solid 236 for Jeddah Lanes, but he was the only player to cross the 200 series with Aslani on 199, Valenzuela 196, Paolo Allego 179 and Afurong 165.

The next conference is tentatively set to start Aug. 2 at Jeddah Lanes, according to the organizing FTBJ (Filipino Tenpin Bowlers of Jeddah).

Final team standings:

Champion Sky Freight Forwarders, 1st runner-up Jeddah Lanes, 2nd runner-up AFM-Moe, fourth place MC Hammer, fifth place Habagat, sixth place Bank AlJazira, seventh place Taurus, eighth place Idol, ninth place FTBJ-Jem, 10th place Jeddah 5K, 11th place Lipton Chai Latte.