Men’s winners (L-R) Bobby Baraquel, Edris Mangoda, Ernie Geslani (presenter), Ruel Santoc, Ver Jasa and Rudy Valanzuela.
Pip R. PlanasJEDDAH – Seeded to finals via top-qualifying class B with unchallenged 3,506 15-game series scratch, Bobby Baraquel bowled within his average on the first two games then exploded on the ultimate salvo to become the eventual champion of the men’s division while Malou Gime, who was sixth on the qualifying and second to May Lourdes on the semifinals prolifically scored on the three-game series championship to remarkably dominate the women’s division of the Filipino Expatriate Damayan Bowling Group May 2012 Bowlfest at the Bowling City here.
Baraquel was actually on the seventh place with 400 series after two games. Blocking him were Jett Santos (439), Ver Jasa (435), Rudy Valenzuela (418), Jimmy Aragones (415), Edris Mangoda (412) and Ruel Santoc (406) while threatening were FBF champion Melvin Lising and Oca Evangelista with 394 each and Roger Daquioag, who, with his 390 is highly regarded for a break through with his smooth-rolling but precise lefty style. But with Baraquel readily finding his track on the last lane movement, he was able to pierce through all the barriers to be true to his long-aspired title on a strike-glittered 230 massive kegling. Baraquel consequentially took home the male championship on three-game series with handicap of 630 followed by runners-up Valenzuela (625), Jasa (624), Santoc (617) and Mangoda 616.
In the women’s division, Sally Sanosa went direct to finals with her top qualifier score of 3,175 while May Lourdes seared lanes with her 838 on fantastic four semifinal games of 221, 191, 223 and 203. Making to finals with Sanosa and Lourdes were Gime (778), Aileen Miralbuna (748) and Evelyn Santoc (704) while Grace Funtilon was eliminated with a pin disparity at 703. Alona Antinero, malou Nidoy, Eloisa Fernandez, Aisah Silabay and Ester Santoc were left behind.
Initial game of the final lap was a show of determination as Gime left closest rival Santoc with 38 pins at 226-188. With 204 and 205 separate follow up Gime’s lead was chopped by Santoc of a pin making it 430-393 with no big headway from other finalists. Confident of her kegling condition, Gime bowled optimistically on a 234 endgame to purse the May 2012 Bowlfest on 664 supremacy. Santoc kept second place with 590, Miralbuna followed with 545, Lourdes with 513 and Sanosa with 512.
Other winners were: OA top qualifier – Zaldy Bacero (3,767), OA hi-gamer – Melvin Lising (279), Class C top qualifier – Jimmy Aragones (3,390), C hi-gamer – Rolly Vistal (245), D hi-gamer – Jun de Dios (259) and B hi-gamer Baraquel (257).
