By EARL WRIGHT

JEDDAH –

Carol Rio earned the distinction as back-to-back champion in the Overseas Filipino Bowlers Club (OFBC) 6th Year Anniversary Tournament recently at Iceland Bowling Center here.

Seeded second into the stepladder and championship rounds, Rio bowled with confidence to win the ladies title in impressive fashion.

Rico Bulalayao just fell short of a men’s championship repeat after being thwarted by Rodel Tacson in the title match.

The championship round’s first match featured the players ranked Nos. 3, 4 and 5 in a one-game knockout with handicap with the winner to face No. 2 for the right to challenge the waiting No. 1 for the championship crown.

Imelda Flores emerged from the first match shootout to gain a crack at Rio, carding 167 as against the 157 by fifth seed Vilma Miranda and 148 by No. 3 Vicky Juayno.

But against Rio, Flores simply could not find the form she displayed against Miranda and Juayno.

Rio easily won 188-138 despite the disadvantage in handicap to Flores, hitting strike-spare-strike from the fifth frame to cushion victory.

Riding momentum of the win against Flores, Rio prevailed against top-seeded Nhur Inawan in a ho-hum of championship match 142-118, as the eventual ladies’ champion toppled pins with authority, while her opponent struggled with open frames so that by the eighth frame Rio opened a big lead at 106-74.

While Rio had an easy time Tacson, which finished at No. 5 after the six games qualifying, needed to win three straight matches to claim the men’s crown in this annual event sponsored by Tahweel Integrated through CEO Abdulrahman Al-Omran, Plant Manager Jose Belda, Admin/Finance Manager Joseph Mani, Marlon Magtibay and Ahmed Samy.

First to fall in the Tacson dragnet were Ed Labuac and Ed Cordova who tallied 158 and 157 to Tacson’s 199 in the three-man shootout. Tacson then took down Casadores II teammate Tope Sayson 188-153.

In the championship match against No. 1 and waiting finalist Bulalayao Tacson overcame a late push by the defending champion to escape with the victory 179-177.

The two champions were each awarded cash prize, trophy and sponsored item while the runners-up received cash prizes and sponsored items during the prize distribution ceremony that followed the final matches.

In addition to sponsor Tahweel the organizers thanked all participants and the following individuals for their support of the tournament: Vangie Lim, Rodolfo U. Jamon, Alex and Carmen Duma, Delia Javing and Rico Bulalayao.

Top five qualifiers:

Men’s division — 1. Rico Bulalayao 1,116 pinfalls, 2. Tope Sayson 1,096, 3. Ed Cordova 1,052, 4. Ed Labuac 1,033, 5. Rodel Tacson 1,032.

Ladies’ division — 1. Nhur Inawan 983, 2. Carol Rio 938, 3. Vicky Juayno 936, 4. Imelda Flores 929, 5. Vilma Miranda 901.