Lance & 3rdy into semis of FEDBG-FMBL

Team captain Ric Reformado took charge at Lance & 3rdy and in the process inspired Evelyn Santoc and youthful Shirley Sagmit to capitalize on their handicaps, put more pressure on opponents and make up for modest scoring from Marcelo Manalo, Med Ramos and Ver Jasa in the victory over Micah’s Pride that advanced the team to the semifinals against Petromin Express in the FEDBG-FMBL 12th Conference at the Bowling City here.
Ekis-3 survived Ball Care Team in well fought match wherein till the 8th frame, only 10 pins separated the two teams. Ekis-3 eventually outlasted Mongoose on final tallies of 1275-1210.
Ekis bet Zaldy Bacero boosted his team with 226, skipper Ernie Geslani, Sol Cuenca, Alex Flora Malou Gime and Ruben Griño came through with 217, 234, 219, 190 and 195 in that order. Top scorer for BCT was Eloisa Fernandez with 268, followed by Grace Funtilon 217 and Caloy Nuguit 205, while Randy Mata, Ric Tibayan and team captain Emil Payongayong shared the rest of the defense.
Up against fourth qualifier Lance & 3rdy, Ekis-3 stayed close till the sixth frame with Bacero, Griño and Flora trying to contain Ramos, Manalo, Santoc and Sagmit. But with their three players a letdown and the rivals’ prime players seemingly unstoppable, Lance & 3rdy consigned Ekis-3 to a fourth runner-up finish in the tournament at final tallies of 1342-1248. Sagmit led Lance with 259, followed by Ramos 249, Manalo 229, Jasa 221, Santoc 215 and Reformado 168. Bacero, Griño and Flora defended Ekis-3 with 267, 240 and 194.
The third stepladder match started with Micah’s Pride burdened by eight enemy marks which it cut to only seven pins at 1048-1055 scratch deal at the end of the fight.
Till the 7th frame Micah’s Pride was still hopeful as ace Oca Bernabe was matching Reformado strike for strike and Jack Jarin parrying the blows of Sagmit and Santoc.
But on the 9th frame, Ruel Santoc was not able to deliver so that despite 201 from Bernabe and 238 from Jarin defending 1st runner-up Micah’s Pride settled for fourth place on settlement of 1217-1148 in this L’Occitane Provedence-supported event.
Lance & 3rdy reached the semifinals on a remarkable 235 by Reformado that Santoc and Sagmit gamely backed up with 210 and 218.