BY EARL WRIGHT

JEDDAH — Eight teams made their starts to the new OFBC (Overseas Filipino Bowlers Club) Friday Afternoon League Season 8 with RTJ Baguio Transient House claiming Team of the Week honors to open its title defense at the Iceland Bowling Center here.

The victory had barely sunk in for RTJ during the last season, and yet another title run for this team looks promising. Captained by Joel Nidoy, who is also the league commissioner, RTJ outraced everyone for the top tally of 27 points.

Spareshots, the Season 7 second runner-up, compiled 24.5 points at second place on the day with Crime Busters on 21 points and Casadores on 20.

SGH Bowling Group finished the first session of the five-man team league event at fifth spot with 18 points. Young Once, Lucky Ones and Forever Living were the last three to check in on 17.5, 12 and 4 points in that order.

Malou Nidoy made it an RTJ double by clinching the ladies Bowler of the Week accolade after shooting the distaff side’s best score of 510.

Taking home the men’s Bowler of the Week plum was Young Once’s Toto Lim who carded 588 on lines of 180, 178 and 176.

The Bulalayaos Rico and Darlene backed up Malou at RTJ by rolling respective three-game series of 547 and 431, while Jack Jarin added 496 and team manager Rudy Jamon tallied 440.

At Spareshots skipper Alex Duma and Benj Espinosa enjoyed solid rounds of 521 and 492. Supporting them were Jon Belo on 473, Jose Antonio Bayag Jr. on 469 and Carmen Duma on 457.

Crime Busters team captain Mildred Tolentino led from the front to shoot the top score of 492 followed by Vilma Miranda 490, Samuel Tesfal 474, Randy del Remedios 469 and Susan Bacalso 457.

Casadores of Tope Sayson had Ed Labuac leading the way on 501. Obet Vidonia missed the 500-series by a few pions on 495, while Ed Cordova, Narciso Carandang and Fatima Jintarat added 474, 452 and 423.

SGH used a six-man rotation to start its campaign with Osman De Guzman at the top of the scoring ladder on 527. Shahid Salvador had 466 and Rolando Adoc e 448 to go with Irene Huit’s 389, Jay Arcenas’ 304 and Gamal Matanog’s 177.

In addition to Toto the others that contributed to Young Once’s cause were Jaime Flores 551 Sheila Monserate 427, co-captain Demet Velasquez 400 ad Vangie Lim 378.

Team standings (first week):

1. RTJ Transient House 27 points 2. Spareshots 24.5 3. Crime Busters 21 4. Casadores 20 5. SGH Bowling Group 18 6. Young Once 17.5 7. Lucky Ones 12 8. Forever Living 4.