Pip R. Planas
JEDDAH — A record-setting seven-time Team of the Week honors in one season sent BCT-JBS Pro Shop to finals in a twice-to-beat privilege and eventually garnered its first title as it beat and dethroned Sagmit Dental Clinic (formerly Lance & 3rdy) at the closure of the FEDBG Friday Morning Bowling League 17th meet at the Bowling City here.
Prior to this awaited battle was ten-team playoff where Micah’s Pride, Sagmit Dental Clinic, Liquidators-3 and Four Season finished top four with respective 3-game series of 3,620, 3,538, 3,467 and 3,444 disqualifying Lane Axis, FB Rhinos, Casadores, Global Intergold, Marinduqueños and Trojans. Getting into the last barrier into the stepladder, it was Sagmit that emerged supreme with 1,268 leaving Four Season 1,201, Liquidators 1,173 and Micah’s Pride 1,168 to embrace the consolation prizes.
Making it to stepladder-1, Sagmit DC luckily edged Pin Slasher on the last-frame roll of Igna Salgado that landed the Dariel Loquias-captained team to No. 5 on final tallies 1,176-1,170 to advance against third regular qualifier Ekis-8 of Engineer Ernie Geslani. The match was seen even as both teams bartering marks and sporadic missed shots. Zaldy Bacero, who seemed stable against Ric Reformado on top pace, was confident that Rey Beltran could overcome track of labyrinth against the steady Salgado in the anchor post. Insiders Jimmy Mandingiado was shielding against Ruel Santoc and the trio of Relativo, Malou Gime and Alma Bacero were squaring well against Ding dela Rosa, Evelyn and Myrna Santoc. But again on the last frame wherein Ekis-8 was just a mark to take Sagmit out, Beltran horribly faltered to let Salgado be boosted by double strikes to move Dental Clinic to next battle on settlement of 1,158-1,134.
So from as low as seventh place, Sagmit DC now on third to try the might of second-seeded Cool Guys to be qualified to championship against top qualifier BCT-JBS Pro Shop. Tight probing was displayed by both teams with no one rallying to extricate till Salgado once again lifted Sagmit to the finals by containing counterpart Nezar Alhamwi who failed a “must double strike” to assure Cool Guys of victory. With Salgado’s mark on the last block, Sagmit luckily went to finals on 1,165-1,160 upset.
For the title defense Sagmit was now up against long-time title campaigner BCT-JBS Pro Shop which was manned by well-readied keglers with Jimmy Aragones in front backed up by Romel Agbayani, Aisah Silabay, team captain Emil Payongayong, Edward Botardo and anchored by Rommel Cagampang. The fighting six were seen on well-prepared contention mode on their exchange of marks. But the ignition of Aragones and Cagampang changed the atmosphere of the game. Reformado and Salgado planked by Evelyn and dela Rosa were also flared up, but Agbayani, Payongayong, Silabay and Botardo concretized the inside so though Ruel and Myna came for succor, BCT-JBS Pro Shop visibly decided the championship by nearly 100 pins as early as the homestretch.
BCT-JBS Pro Shop took home its first championship on marginal dethroning of 1,371-1,273 with Cagampang sparkling with 270, followed by Payongayong 230, Agbayani 224, Aragones 218, Silabay 214 and Botardo 211 to the delight of Ryan Conde, Elsie Mancera and Pip R. Planas. Sagmit Dental Clinic was defended valiantly by Team Manager Evelyn Santoc 244, TC Reformado 226, Salgado 222, dela Rosa 211, Ruel Santoc 191 and Myrna Santoc 179.
The 18th Conference of FEDBG-FMBL is tentatively set to roll on Aug. 19.
