KUWAIT CITY, Aug 11: As the countdown for the end of the elimination round begins, the quest for an outright finals berth at the on-going 2011 PBAK-BEC Money Gram-SMDC Summer Tenpin Bowling League have also started to heat up as indicated by the team standings after the completion of the 14th week matches. Even as the leader board withstood the mixed results of the week, the most noteworthy showing was dished out by Cozmo-2 who barged inside the Top 8 with Air Safari, East-West and league leader World Class also posting convincing victories over separate rivals. In the remaining three weeks of the elimination round, at least 10 teams will be jockeying for positions for their respective seats to the championship round.

After a couple below par performance that dragged them down to as low as 12th place, the entertainment magnates of Cozmo-2 change all that in a wink of an eye with a superb win over equally the resilient Swooping Eagles. With wide spread wings, the Swooping Eagles with Fadel Qassem, Alonzo Bush, Aqeel Farisi, Riz Roque and Jessica Balagat on board took off mightily in the opening game of the match easily clobbering their prey with a 998-891 beating. Surprised but definitely not shaken by the setback, a rejuvenated Cozmo-2 led by Fahad Abul, Ronnel Valencia, Noe Mahayag, Jun Hosmillo and Aris de Guzman came back well prepared in game two grounding the Eagles 1113-961. Like a house on fire, the Cozmo-2 pin busters burned the lanes once again in game three to beat the tough Swooping Eagles crew 1171-969 to clinch the match via a 3200-2928 count. Through this enviable effort Cozmo-2 went home with the team weekly high series award.

Meanwhile, East-West one of the teams tapped to have a serious shot at the title also clinched a decisive win over the weekend silencing the sound masters of BOSE with a 3006-2849 drubbing. In this match where both teams started rather slowly, East-West was able to find its mark late in the game and managed to eke out a modest 926-890 win in game one. The two teams then picked up more marks in game two bowling toe to toe until Joel Tizon, Pilar Villanueva, Edgar Pascua, Sam Behbehani and Jun Baker stepped up to give BOSE a team spirit boosting 1020-959 victory. With BOSE slightly ahead after two games 1910-1885, Nelson de Leon, Mike Garcia and Rick Marimla took over the scoring chores to give East-West a 1096-939 win in game three. Also suiting up for East-West in this match were Elvie Sotio, Ted Yap, Ding Abaygar and Eden Oning. Joining the 14th week 3000 club was Air Safari who swept the 3-game series match against Whiplash on their way to a 3002-2771 victory. Despite the absence of their main man Tony Bustria who is recuperating from a recent illness, the air explorers were still in devastating form throughout the match. Headed by Edwin de Mesa, Sonia Mathews, Kiko Andaya, Lito Michaels, Toto Abear, Al Bautista and Mina Andaya Air Safari defeated Whiplash in all thee games of the match 1045-913, 938-844 and 994-1014.

World Class on the other hand proved its worth as league leader by rolling the only other above 3000 team output in its 3044-2650 walk in the park win over the Bahrain Exchange Company-Nusantara quintet. Already assured a trip to finals, the World Class crew of Bill Stiles, Gina Ashley, Ibrahim Aslawi, Lee Mills and David Banks nevertheless bowled like the title was on the line sweeping the 3-game series match via 1009-862, 987-950 and 1023-838 scores. Siete Pares meanwhile got into serious contention for a place in the Top 8 after easing past Klasmeyts Al Khadda Kana Controls 2975-2772. To book this important victory, Siete Pares with Egay Cabildo, Faie Reyel, Nitz Alinea, Rommel Genciana and Rico Galang subdued Klasmeyts KK in game one and two 1027-871 and 1027-957. In the remaining matches of the week, K2E2 brushed aside Western Union-Al Muzaini Exchange Company 2824-2770, LEAF nipped Cozmo-1 at the wire 2853-2786, Xpress Rollers flattened D’ Islanders 2893-2708 and Team Asoka edge out Mega World 2779-2748.

Going to the current Individual and Team High scores, in the Individual High Game the holders are as follows, Men Class O-Yaqoub Shatti 290, Men Class A-Al Bautista 257, Men Class B-Lloyd Fernandes 244, Ladies Class A-Janet Shaikh 224 and Ladies Class B-Michelle Avila 238 while for the High Average Award the current leaders are Men Class O-Yaqoub Shatti207, Men Class A-Aldin Avila 195, Men Class B-Lloyd Fernandes 185, Ladies Class A-Blanca Meracado 175 and Ladies Class B-Liza Catapia 165. In the Team Awards the standing records belong to Cozmo 2-Trio High Series 696, World Class-Doubles High Series 500, Cozmo 1-Team High Game 1049 and Team High Series 3094.
The team standings after 14 weeks are as follows (read as rank, team name and average score per game) 1. World Class-982, 2. K2E2-969, 3. Klasmeyts/Al Khada/Kana Controls -965, 4. Cozmo 1-964, 5. Air Safari-963, 6. East West -961, 7. Western Union/Al Muzaini -958, 8. Cozmo 2-958, 9. Whiplash -957, 10. Siete Pares -953, 11. Xpress Rollers -951, 12. LEAF -950, 13. Team Asoka -943, 14. Megaworld/Will Do It -942, 15. Swooping Eagles-941, 16. D’ Islanders-932, 17. BOSE-928, 18. Nusantara-853.