Kamahalan inches closer to top

Defending champion Team Kamahalan is slowly gaining ground in the leaderboard and in its quest for a repeat championship victory.
In week 23 of the Unified Filipino Tenpin Bowlers of Riyadh (UFTBR)-Etihad Airways Tuesday Bowling League at the Universal Bowling Center (UBC), Kamahalan rebounded from an upset loss last week with a convincing 22 -7 victory over Lane Cruiser.
Edwin Atienza led the team’s balanced attack with a 4-game series of 919, with contributions from Rodel Maranca (840), Dennis Gabriel (834), (Bembol Velasco (815) and Abdullah Amoudi (807).
In the other games, No. 1 NBA survived a ferocious challenge from third-ranked Unica and salvaged a close 17-13 win, Habagat defeated Thrill Seekers 19 - 10 and toppled Unica at the third spot in the standings, Ayaw Na dominated Pin Hitters 14-3, Mandirigma rolled over upset conscious Dabarkads 15-12, SABB Advance manhandled SACO Bolts 22- 9) and Pin Pals won over Vinell Arabia 21-9.
Joe Garrido of Team NBA took the Bowler of the Week award in Group 1 with a series of 980 while Ric Ventura of Mandirigma bagged the award in Group 2 with a series of 858.
The MVP race in Group 1 has become a tight three-way battle with leader Ronald Bautista (212.87 average) being closely chased by Andro Tismo (212.09) and UFTBR Chairman Ernee Noto (211,87). In the Group 2 MVP race, Rodel Maranca is almost assured of the plum with an average of 205.06 with Freddie Solomon (187.0) and Fathi Abdulaziz (186.38) a little far behind at second and third respectively.
The league’s main sponsor is Etihad Airways, the national airlines of UAE and one of the fastest growing airlines in the Middle East which will offer three returnair tickets in Coral Economy Class, 2 for Manila and 1 for any Etihad Airways online destination to top individual achievers at the end of the league.
UFTBR No Tap Open
The ongoing UFTBR “No Tap Open” Bowling Tournament at the AlKhozama Bowling Center picked up pace with 40 bowlers having rolled their qualifying blocks.
The event is being organized to commemorate UFTBR’s anniversary. Bowlers need to enter a minimum of three blocks (3 games per block) to qualify. The top 32 qualifiers will move to the semifinals on March 28 with the top eight to contest the finals on March 29. Cash and special prizes await the winners. The event chairman is Art Palustre with support from UFTBR Officers and Work Committee members.
Team standings as of week 23 with 3 more games in the preliminary pound: NBA (406 points) at 1st, 2nd — Kamahalan (387 pts), 3rd — Habagat (371 pts), 4th Unica (370 pts), 5th — SABB Advance (332 pts), 6th Ayaw Na -— (318 pts), 7th – Mandirigma (303 pts), 8th — Pin Pals (283 pts), 9th — Vinnell Arabia (268), 10th Lane Cruiser (265 pts), 11th and 12th SACO Bolts and Thrill Seekers (251 pts), 13th — Dabarkads (247 pts) and 14th — Pin Hitters (233 pts).