By EARL WRIGHT

JEDDAH — RTJ Baguio Transient House showed poise under heavy pressure to win the championship crown in the OFBC (Overseas Filipino Bowlers Club) Friday Afternoon League Season 7 at the Iceland Bowling Center here.

The final match became a winner-take-all one after RTJ, with a twice to beat edge, lost the first game against Lucky Ones 867-809 as nerves got the better of the No. 1 team in the five-man team league event.

But RTJ refused to just roll over and die and regrouped behind the inspirational team captain Joel Nidoy to seal the title by winning the decisive second game 830-809.

Nidoy hit his stride after starting with two open frames to string six straight strikes before closing with spare-strike in his 202 that went with the 161 by Jack Jarin, 141 by Rico Bulalayao, 134 by team manager Rudy Jamon and 114 by Malou Nidoy.

For Lucky Ones, veteran bowler Hadi Pacheco had the top score of 153. But that was just about it, with Rose Agustin on 139, co-captain Alan Ornedo 128, Edwin Agustin 124 and Johara Palot 111.

Lucky Ones advanced to the final after eliminating Spareshots 1,698-1, 627 in the two-game series with handicap semifinal.

The OFBC Season 7 ended with a fitting awards ceremony recently. RTJ last tasted victory during OFBC Season 2.

The awarding segued into Season 8 opening weeks. This new league takes a breather for the December holidays then resumes in January next year.

The high record awardees were: High game scratch Dan Garret Mojares (men’s division) and Malou Nidoy (ladies division), high game with handicap Jose Antonio Bayag Jr. (men’s division) and Johara Palot (ladies division), high game series scratch Joel Nidoy (men’s division) and Sharmaine Patayan (ladies division), high game series with handicap Joel Belo (men’s division) and Carol Rio (ladies division).

Final team standings:

Champion RTJ Baguio Transient, first runner-up Lucky Ones, second runner-up Spareshots, third runner-up Youngsters, fourth runner-up Arci-5.