KUWAIT CITY, March 15: At the on-going 2011 PBAK-Cozmo-Western Union-Al Muzaini Exchange-7th Conference Tenpin Bowling League, the 10 finalists for the much awaited single round robin championship series got a much needed 2-week break to give way to the equally anticipated Singles Event Finals participated in by the top bowlers in each group based on their performance (average scores) in the elimination round of the team event. In the wide open Men Class B competition, Indian Strikers stalwart Lloyd Fernandes banked on his scintillating pin busting in the last two games in winning his first major PBAK title. Pilar Villanueva of BOSE Sound Masters on the other hand bagged the Ladies Class B plum when she dominated her peers to win the crown in convincing fashion and with plenty to spare.

Looking back on how the eventual winners achieved their respective feats, first in Ladies Class B, the 14 title contenders who suited up for the 8-game series event were Michelle Avila, Gina Ashley, Fe Ferer, Maricar Ruben, Norie Sairat, Jheng Liwayway, Emma Gatus, Sonia Mathews, Jane Nance, Pilar Villanueva, Jessica Balagat, Jackie Guitang, Liza Catapia and Ning Cervantes. Rolling off to a perfect start, Ning Cervantes of K2E2 took the early lead with 353 pin falls through game scores 172 and 181. Just 6 pins away in second was Pilar Villanueva of BOSE who garnered an opening 2-game block score of 347 (167, 180) followed by Liza Catapia (335) of Emirates Airlines in third. The other early pace setters also included Emma Gatus of Klasmeyts with 323, Michelle Avila of Frost Real Estate with 318 and Jheng Liwayway of Megaworld with 306 pin falls to her credit.

At the halfway mark, the lead changed hands as Pilar Villanueva (694) checked in with 164 and 183 scores in games 3 and 4 to grab a 2-pin lead over Liza Catapia (692) who turned in a 194 and 163. Jackie Guitang (658) of Cozmo also improved to third after a superb 221 in game 3 followed by Emma Gatus (653) who remained in fourth, erstwhile leader Ning Cervantes (651) and Maricar Ruben (626) who bowled a stunning 223 in game 4. Successfully brushing aside all the efforts of her opponents to unseat her, Pilar Villanueva (1,041) protected a 4 mark lead over Liza Catapia (1,013) going to the penultimate game. As her pursuers failed to gain ground, Pilar Villanueva closed out in style with 172 and 207 scores in the last two games to win the title handily from the fast closing Jessica Balagat and Jacky Guitang. The final Ladies Class B results are as follows, Pilar Villanueva-1,420 (Champion), Jessica Balagat-1,359 (1st Runner up), Jacky Guitang-1,347 (2nd Runner up), Liza Catapia-1,329, Ning Cervantes-1,301, Jane Nance-1,272, Sonia Mathews-1,253, Emma Gatus-1,227, Jheng Liwayway-1,220, Norie Sairat-1,212, Maricar Ruben-1,208, Fe Ferer-1,163, Gina Ashley-1,161 and Michelle Avila-1,153.

Moving on to the Men Class B side, the top18 bowlers who qualified for the event were Lloyd Fernandes, Obet Cabrera, Trevor Bush, Ted Yap, George Bouchebel, Hermie Saliba, Wilmer Linga, Ramon Aguilar, Alex Cervantes, Rey Ualat, Bobby Carambas, Joel Tizon, Joe Simmons, Rey Galvez, Roy Pineda, Danny Doctor, Jess Tolentino, Romy Daus, and Gofar Hussein. A 165 and 200 in the first two games of the series gave Obet Cabrera (365) of Frost Real Estate the upper hand over Al Ahli Bank’s Trevor Bush and Cozmo’s Wilmer Linga who carded 358 and 353 respectively. Also in the lead pack were Roy Pineda (345) of Cozmo, Ramon Aguilar (337) of Siete Pares and Hermie Saliba (330) of Xpress Rollers. The two front runners continued to bowl neck to neck in the next 2-game block and at the end of game 4 it was Trevor Bush who emerged as the new leader with 738 with Obet Cabrera settling down in second with 731. At this point, Indian Striker Lloyd Fernandes made his move by taking the next spot with his 716 tally followed by Ramon Aguilar-705, Wilmer Linga-685 and Roy Pineda-671.

Obet Cabrera was back at the driver’s seat after another set of two games where he bowled a 221 and 160 increasing his total score to 1,112 pin falls. Dangerously closing in was Lloyd Fernandes who carded a 6-game series of 1,103 pin falls after a 188 and 199 in games 5 and 6. With two more games left the remaining contenders for the top 3 places were Trevor Bush-1,031, Bobby Carambas-1,015, Ramon Aguilar-1,009 and Ted Yap-999. Pivotal in every sense of the word, game 7 spelled the difference between winning and losing for the two keglers vying for the top spot. A timely and splendid 191 by Lloyd Fernandes (1,294) coupled by the disastrous 134 posted by Obet Cabrera (1,246) enabled the spicy striker to claim the leader board supremacy going to the last game. Carrying a 48 pin advantage, Lloyd finish off his rival with a 200 score in game 8 that was more than he needed to raise the winner’s trophy. The final tally after 8 games are as follows, Lloyd Fernandes-1,494 (Champion), Obet Cabrera-1,406 (1st Runner up), Trevor Bush-1,378 (2nd Runner up), Ted Yap-1,370, George Bouchebel-1,364, Hermie Saliba-1,353, Wilmer Linga-1,326, Ramon Aguilar-1,311, Alex Cervantes-1,300, Rey Ualat-1,286, Bobby Carambas-1,275, Joel Tizon-1,269, Joe Simmons-1,263, Rey Galvez-1.256, Roy Pineda-1,249, Danny Doctor-1,243, Jess Tolentino-1,203, Romy Daus-1,151, and Gofar Hussein-1,134.