By EARL WRIGHT

JEDDAH — Cesar Pagtalunan banked on a strong finish to score his first victory by winning the May leg in the OFBC (Overseas Filipino Bowlers Club) monthly series at Iceland Bowling Center.

A Class B bowler, Pagtalunan rolled big scratch games of 199 and 223 in the last two games to steer clear of the chasing pack on 946 in the men’s division. Pagtalunan had a slow start with a 155, then added 160 and 169 in the second and third games.

Also notching a breakthrough win entering the halfway mark of the year-long series was Carmen Duma on the ladies’ division.

Carmen topped the five-game contest on 827 on lines of 145, 136, 153, 130 and 143 to win by three pins from Vilma Miranda, who settled for first runner-up on 824 (114,117, 158, 142 and 133).

Alex Duma took the first runner-up position on 916, failing in his bid for a potential repeat of him and Carmen’s husband-and-wife victory in the No-Tap King and Queen Season 2 bowling tournament. Alex ended up 30 pins behind felow Class B kegler Pagtalunan, stringing games of 167, 188, 173, 139 and 209.

Nap Patayan was second runner-up on 895 (129, 179, 173, 180 and 214) while Sergio Modar rounded out the podium winners on 894 (213, 179, 148, 146 and 168).

Aisah Silabay underscored the tight battle in the ladies’ division when she finished just three pins back of Miranda in third place on 821 on lines of 148, 164, 154, 132 and 183. Carmen Bernardo was a distant fourth on 787 (166, 142, 132, 105 and 22).

Prizes were handed out to the winners during the prize distribution ceremony at the end of the competition.