Pip R. Planas
JEDDAH — With Rod Lofamia calling the shots in the absence of captain Oliver Robles, FB Rhinos exhibited well-coordinated games against Marinduqueños while Ekis-8 displayed form again to win another Team of the Week honor in the 17th week of the FEDBG-FMBL 17th meet at Bowling City here.
With both teams being undermanned, Melo Amano inspired FB Rhinos with a 669 handicap series (225, 215 and 225). Seeing Amano’s well-focused offensive, Simeon Dellosa and Imelda Sayago also got in the act and scored 636 and 605 points as Mariz Resano and Lofamia planked 582 and 542.
Team captain James Monteleyola tried to fire up his teammates with his 624 decorated with 220 and 225, but his spirit failed to ignite Minda Guevara, Salve Monteleyola, James Valencia and Joseph Calvo as Marinduqueños was gored by Rhinos 3,439-3,148.
Struggling to pierce through, Ekis-8 kept on bulldozing the barriers by launching another supreme outing to be the Team of the Week after trashing Liquidators-3 3,852-3,574.
Faisal Relativo led Ekis from the front with 705 from scratch of 663. The rest of the Ekis players then rolled remarkably beyond the 600 mark with Rey Beltran besting 648, Jimmy Mandingiado 643, Zaldy Bacero 631, Malou Gime 614 and manager Ernie Geslani 611.
This impressive tally gave Liquidators a big headache as Nap Patayan and Jess Pineda were the only ones surpassing their averages blocking with 654 and 601. Hanna Reyes pitched in with 599, but Melo Dianco, Susan Patayan and team captain Erwin Palilio failed to save the team. Ekis clinched another Team of the Week on sweep sets of 1,309-1,112, 1,302-1,273 and 1,241-1,188.
Lane Axis also made news by reclaiming the league leadership, which they first tasted during the opening of the tournament. Searing the lanes was Bonnie Garcia, who showed no mercy to the undermanned Trojans, leading the binge with 704 from scratch games of 256, 244 and 204. Team captain Jay Bengco, Cesar Monares and Aileen Miralbuna corroborated for 1,895, while Obie Ycasas and Jayson Castillo added 1,129 to cement 3,728-3,272 wallop of the opponents.
Lane Axis is now re-dominating the tournament with 587 computed points. Cool Guys is the nearest rival with 579 following their rout of former league-leader Sagmit Dental Clinic. Nezar Alhamwi led Cool Guys with third Bowler of the Week-winning outing of 753 from scratch of 705. Randy Mata provided the best plank with 624, while Lourdes Punzalan, Michelle Mata, Dylan Ilagan and TC Jun de Dios combined for 2,334 clearing SDC at 3,711-3,302. Ruel Santoc best-defended Evelyn Santoc-managed Santoc Dental Clinic with 637.
In other matches Four Season and Casadores beat BCT-JBS Pro Shop and undermanned Micah’s Pride respectively 18-4. Pin Slashers out-pointed Global Intergold 18-4. Luz Pagaran delighted Global with Lady Bowler of the Week award with 675.
