KUWAIT CITY, Nov 26: Up and coming Kuwaiti tenpin bowler Aseel Al Roomi and Filipino veteran kegler Bobby Ferrera reigned supreme in their respective championship match in clinching the Group 1 and 2 title of the 2011 PBAK-Moneygram-SMDC President’s Cup held at the Cozmo Bowling Center in Khaifan. In lifting the Group 2 title, Bobby Ferrera brushed aside the twice to beat top finalist Abdullah Behbehani while on the other hand, Aseel Al Roomi who topped the semifinal round defeated the far more seasoned Yaqoub Al Shatti in pocketing the Group 1 plum.

In the Group 2 qualifying round the Top 24 bowlers who advanced to the 8-game series semifinals were Jess de Vera, Mina Andaya, Rudy DeLima, Liza Catapia, Norie Sairat, Eden Oning, Philip Marimla, Eddie Pena, Rommel Gencina, Jane Nance, Bong Autida, Janet Shaikh, Ibrahim Dubayan, Hermie Saliba, Rod Llait, Emma Gatus, David banks, Alfred Avila, Sonia Mathews, Ibrahim Al Azmi, Nasha King, Elvie Sotio, Bobby Ferrera and Abdullah Behbehani. On to the semifinals, Eddie Pena who opened up with bang was the early pace setter rolling a 243 in game one followed by a 183 in the next game for a 2-game tally of 426 pin falls. Lady pin buster Elvie Sotio came in next with 400 pin falls followed by Ibrahim Al Azmi, Ibrabim Dubayan and Philip Marimla with 399, 394 and 393 respectively. The next 2-game block saw the lead changing hands as Ibrahim Al Azmi submitted grabbed the upper hand by carding a 4-game score of 821 pin falls. Elvie Sotio with 781 remained in second at the halfway mark while moving up in the standings were Bobby Ferrera-773, Hermie Saliba-772, Sonia Mathews 771 and Abdullah Behbehani-768.

Past the halfway mark in game 5, Sonia Mathews emerged as the new leader with 992 pin falls to her name. Despite a 169 in game 6 Sonia Mathews (1173) was able to get a share of the top spot with the rushing Abdullah Behbehani (1173) who garnered a 203 in this game. Elvie Sotio (1159) firmly hanged on third just a few pins ahead of a bunch of contenders headed by Bobby Ferrera-1156, Ibrahim Al Azmi-1154 and Alfred Avila-1154. In the penultimate game, Abdullah Behbehani practically clinched the twice to beat top finalist post after his 264 score lifted his 7-game total score to 1422 and with just a game left in the semis the strong contenders for the remaining 2 finals berth were Elvie Sotio-1355, Sonia Mathews-1344, Ibrahim Al Azmi-1336, Alfred Avila-1324, Bobby Ferrera-1321, Rod llait-1310 and Emma Gatus-1305. Emerging on top after the tightly contested game 8 were Abdullah Behbehani (1629), Bobby Ferrera (1551) and Elvie Sotio (1549). In tip top shape for the step ladder finals, Bobby Ferrera claimed a shot at the title by eliminating Elvie Sotio in the opening match of the finals 244-177.

In the low scoring championship match, Bobby Ferrera extended the match to deciding game after eking out a 172-137 win. In the final game Bobby Ferrera once again out bowled Abdullah Behbehani 234-210 to lift the Group 2 title.
Moving to Group 1, the qualifiers who showed up for the semis were JR Sabado, Rudy Zablan, Mike Garcia, Bene Crucero, Aqeel Farisy, Al Belarmino, Fahad Abul, Ayad Al Amiri, Noel bejar, Aga Cuadrazal, Tony Zuleta, Kiko Andaya, Ric Marimla, Mousa Abdullah, Ed Mendoza, Romy Fermil, Fahad Ragheeb, Mar Evangelista, Edwin de Mesa, Yaqoub Al Shatti and Aseel Al Roomi. An explosive 2-game block performance where he submitted a 232 and 234 gave Mar Evangelista (478) the early lead. The early front runners also included Ed Mendoza-432, Ric Marimla-414, Rudy Zablan-414 and Mike Garcia-413. Long shot Mar Evangelista (913) continued his pace setting chores midway the 8-game series competition followed by Ed Mendoza-866, Edwin de Mesa-839, Aseel Al Roomi-821 and Mousa Abdullah-816.

In game 5 and 6 Aseel Al Roomi scorched the lanes with 256 and 278 scores to grab the lead from Mar Evangelista 1374-1301 and with still two games left to bowl the other remaining contenders were Edwin de Mesa (1277), Ed Mendoza (1251) and Romy Fermil (1223). In the penultimate game Aseel Al Roomi tightened his grip of the twice to beat post and then went on to top the semis with his 8-game tally of 1787 pin falls. Yaqoub Al Shatti who closed out with a 237 and 246 grabbed the next spot with 1704 with Edwin de Mesa taking the last finals berth through a 1693 total score. In the first match of the finals Yaqoub Al Shatti showed Edwin de Mesa the exit door via a 205-181 decision. Lacking in experience but abundant in desire to win, the much younger Aseel Al Roomi bagged the coveted Group 1 title as he defeated his well seasoned rival Yaqoub Al Shatti 232-224.
The Philippine Bowling Association in Kuwait would like to thank the following for the successful staging of the tournament; former Presidents Sonny Mariano, Al Belarmino, Rudy Zablan, Lito Mercado, Rudy Zablan and Hermie Saliba for the trophies and medals, Barakat Travels for the providing the T-Shirts of the semifinalists, Kana Controls and Bong Bermillo.