BY PIP R. PLANAS
JEDDAH — Team captain Richard Antonio showed prolific leadership to lift Pin Busters to the fore during the playoff to determine top four of the 10 teams that are aspiring to qualify for the stepladder matches of FEDBG Friday Morning Bowling League 18th meet on its 27th session at the Bowling City here.
Triggering with 222, Antonio inspired teammates for an 1,216 initial collective show on 231 and 205 prime planking of Lito Villanca and Jimmy Urbano to have Pin Busters tailed early leader Ekis-9 posting at front with 1,231 on 237 and 235 boosting of Zaldy Bacero and Rey Beltran. In close contentions were JB Alleygators and Pin Down with 1,195 and 1,173, followed by Sagmit Dental Clinic (1,152), FB Rhinos (1,148), ARCI-5 (1,139), Kabalen Striker (1,132), RL Titans (1,116) and Superbowl Dozers (965).
Given a string of strikes, Antonio blasted 253 that flared up 228 and 225 for Frank Afurong and Urbano to have Pin Busters grabbed the front seat with 2,502 on a 1,286 add-in including 580 from Grace Funtillon, Cloyd Opena and Villanca. Ekis slid to second with 2,429 on 1,198 charge with TC Engr Ernie Geslani and Faisal Relativo binging well with 243 and 223. Pin Down and ARCI-5 pierced through to third and fourth with 2,383 and 2,349. Tommy Kamal, who initialed with 254, sustained helming of 232 for Pin Down mainly pushed by TC George Mangaliman with 211 for their 1210 charge.
ARCI-5 heightened contention on 1,210 backed by TC Jay Bengco, Hairul, Edu Toledo, Aileen Miralbuna, Marcelo Manalo and Dariel Loquias. FB Rhinos, Sagmit DC and JB Alleygators stayed at striking distance with 2,339, 2,329 and 2,324.
Third game was a show of struggle with top three trying to hold their post on their sustained scoring and the last-berth racers on high intensity. When the cloud of uncertainty was cleared, Pin Busters were in front with 3,745 capped by 1,243. Antonio superlatively led teammates with 698 followed by Villanca (643), Urbano (621), while Opena, Funtillon, Perez, and Afurong combined for the rest of their output. Pin Down ranked second with 3,610 Kamal topping the board with 656 and followed by Cesar Pagtalunan (612), Marie Gumpal (608), Med Ramos (602), Mangaliman (575) and August Tindero (557). Ekis-9 finished third with 3,602 with Faisal Relativo leading with 637 and the rest shared by Geslani, Alma Bacero, Beltran, Zaldy Bacero and Jimmy Mandingiado.
Sagmit Dental Clinic landed fourth on a last-two frame decision at 345-322 against the ARCI-5. They had deadlock at 3,493-all after the regular three-game with handicap series elimination. Ding dela Rosa topped Sagmit DC while Manalo did it at 622 for ARCI-5 on regular race. In the tie breaker, it was Joey Calapatia who bagged three strikes that ignited Sagmit DC on the delights of TC Ric Reformado, TM Evelyn Santoc and Jun Estefano. Dariel Loquias had the chance to push ARCI-5 to fourth but the aspired strike was not made, handing Sagmit DC the last berth.
