By EARL WRIGHT

JEDDAH — SGH Bowling Group had an encouraging start to the Season 9 of the OFBC (Overseas Filipino Bowlers Club) Friday Afternoon League after clinching the Vertex Solutions Team of the Week during the third session at the Iceland Bowling Center.

Co-captained by Dan Mojares and Usop P. Abinal, SGH bowlers came up with the top tally of 38 points at the end of the day’s proceedings in the young five-man team league event.

The week’s honors were spread out — Jaime Flores of Spare Busters and Carmen Duma of Spareshots becoming the Vertex Solutions Bowlers of the Week on 594 and 538 respectively.

First-week honoree Crime Busters were five points back on 33 points followed by defending champion Casadores II 31, D’ Splinters 22 and Spare Busters 21.

RTJ Baguio Transient House, the Season 7 titlist, is still looking to get its rythmn to be on 20 points. The last three teams to check in were NC Fantastic Bowlers 11, Forever Dynamics 10 and Forever living 4 points.

Keen to improve on its modest showing in the last season, SGH bowled solid behind a five-man team rotation.

Leading the charge was Dr. Mohammed Khattab on 557, followed by Irene Huit and Princess “Plint” Etracila, who matched cards of 525s, Shaid Salvador on 512 and Gaal Matanog on 505.

Jhun Ejanda was the top scorer at Crime Busters with his effort of 548. He was supported by Lito delos Reyes on 532. Co-captains Samuel Tesfai and Vilma Miranda added 516 and 504, while Mildred Tolentino had 532.

Besides Carmen the others that helped the Spareshots’ cause were Johara Palot 531, Edwin Agustin 526, team captain Alex Duma 512 and Jose Antonio Bayag Jr. 480.

Rodel Tacson fired 564 at the helm of Casadores that also drew 528 and 527 from Fatima Jintarat and skipper Ehd Cordova as well as 521 from Farida de Guzman and 424 from Tope Sayson.

Over at Splinters, the duo of Rand del Remedios and Andrew Ociones showed the way on 546 and 505, while Amy Mercado contributed 498, Susan Bacalso 492 and Cecile Entag 388.

Flores’ output of 594 was the one that stood out at Spare Busters side with Marlon Peralta a few pins short of 500 on 497, Sheila Monserate on 471, Cyril Yumul on 466 and Jason Quiamnbao on 411.

Joel Nidoy led from the front as RTJ’s main man on 526 but that was just about it as Rico Bulalayao and Cesar Pagtalunan failed to cross 500 with their 496 and 489.

The NC Fantastic struggled on the day with team captain Nap Patayan and Aisah Silabay failing to get the desired numbers on 469 an 468, while Forever Living Dynamics had not much to show either with Vicky Juayno’s 462 as the leading score in the tournament sponsored by Vertex Solutions headed by Mohammad Ibrahim Al-Harthi and Dia Jamal Eddin.

Team standings (Third week):

1. Spareshots 104 points, 2. Crime Busters 100, 3. Casadores II 95, 4. SGH Bowling Group 84.5, 5. RTJ Transient House 62.5, 6. NC Fantastic Bowlers 60, 7. D’ Splinters 58, 8. Spare Busters 49, 9. Forever Living Dynamics 29, 10. Forever Living 18.