KUWAIT CITY, April 6: In the just concluded finals of the 2012 PBAK Dawis Cup Bowling Tournament organized by the Philippine Bowling Association in Kuwait and held at the Cozmo Bowling Center in Khaifan, veteran Kuwaiti pin buster Yaqoub Al Shatti together with Filipino keglers Egay Cabildo and Rudy de Lima emerged victorious after reigning supreme in their respective groups. In the No Tap event of the tournament held in memory of the late Danny Dawis who was one of the longest serving PBAK Tournament Director, Mandy Manalo and Janet Shaikh got their share of the limelight by bagging the coveted title and top prize at stake.
After the qualifying round, the finalists in each group advanced to the 8-game series championship round where the top 3 bowlers based on their total scratch plus handicap scores were declared as champion, first runner up and second runner up. Suiting up to vie for the Group 1 plum were Tareq Al Hajri, Bene Crucero, Mohannad Ibrahim, Aseel Al Roomi, Mandy Manalo, JR Sabado, Romy Fermil, Tony Zuleta, Ibrahim Dubayan, Mousa Abdullah, Yaqoub Al Shatti, Fahad Abul, Kiko Andaya, Ayad Al Amiri and Bong Bermillo. With the handicap pin falls in place, Tony Zuleta stormed into the lead with his opening 2-game block score of 454 pin falls. Joining the early leader were Ibrahim Dubayan-450, Bong Bermillo-438, Kiko Andaya-424, Yaqoub Al Shatti-417 and Tareq Al Hajri-404. Through his 191 and 212 scores in the next two games, Tony Zuleta (857) was able to hang on to the lead followed now by the rushing Yaqoub Al Shatti (836) whose 202 and 217 propelled him to second place. In third place at this point was Bong Bermillo with 800.

Like a house on fire Yaqoub Al Shatti (1324) dished out impressive 243 and 245 scores in game 5 and 6 which handed him the number one spot comfortably ahead by 8 marks. With only two games left to bowl, the other contenders were Ibrahim Dubayan-1248, Fahad Abul-1234, Tony Zuleta-1225, Bong Bermillo-1210 and Kiko Andaya-1189. Yaqoub Al Shatti (1538) retained the yellow jersey by rolling a 217 in the penultimate game leaving the rest of the field headed by Fahad Abul (1440), Kiko Andaya (1436), Ibrahim Dubayan (1408) and Tony Zuleta (1407) to vie for the runner up honors. Despite ending his stint with a meager 146 in game 8, Yaqoub Al Shatti nevertheless took home the title with his final tally of 1684 pin falls. Fahad Abul finished second with 1632 followed by Kiko Andaya with 1618 in third place.
Going to the Group 2 side of the competition, the 9 finalists were Ted Yap, Rocky Castillo, Toto Abear, Rod Llait, Rudy de Lima, Mandy Manalo, Nasha King, Egay Cabildo and Alfred Avila. A 164 and 205 in the first games of the 8-game series handed Rod Llait (369) the lead towing Alfred Avila-353, Nasha King-352, Rocky Castillo-345 and Mandy Manalo-342 into the next 2-game block. An eye popping 257 score in game 3 coupled with a 180 in game 4 allowed Egay Cabildo (777) to take over the driver’s seat from Alfred Avila and Rod Llait who garnered 719 and 718 pin falls respectively. As Eagy Cabildo went down in game 5 with a 123, Alfred Avila took the chance to seize the upper hand from Egay 1119-1111. In the penultimate game a close down the wire match up was all set to brew after Egay Cabildo’s remarkable recovery enable him to take back the lead from Alfred Avila 1312-1310. With just the decisive 8th game remaining, Mandy Manalo-1228, Nasha King-1212 and Toto Abear-1169 were left to battle it out for the 2nd runner up post. By finishing with a 184 and an 8-game series score of 1496, Egay Cabildo lifted the title followed by Alfred Avila (1460) and Nasha King (1454) in second and third respectively.

Moving on to Group 3, the 14 title contenders were Sam Behbehani, Ibrahim Aslawi, Rocky Castil, Tareq Sairat, Nasha King, Hermie Saliba, Mina Andaya, Liza catapia, Mohammed Ansari, Kevin Yap, Jacky Guitang, Rudy de Lima, Norie Sairat and Elvie Sotio. Setting the pace after the initial 2-game block with a total scratch plus handicap score was Norie Sairat who carded 366 pin falls followed closely by Jacky Guitang-364, Mohammed Ansari-362, Liza Catapia-352, Kevin Yap-350 and Elvie Sotio-348. At the halfway mark, Norie Sairat who bowled a 201 and 179 continue to tow the front runners with 4-game tally of 746 pin falls. Giving the leader a run for money at this stage were Jacky Guitang (709), Elvie Sotio (704), Mohammed Ansari (698) and Rudy de Lima (683). Proving to be like a tough nut to crack, Norie Sairat (1065) stood her ground as the contenders led by Elvie Sotio (1065), Rudy de Lima (1032), Kevin Yap and Jacky Guitang (1009) started to make their move. In game 7 the resilient Norie Sairat remained on top of the leader board with 1239 still hounded by Elvie Sotio and Rudy de Lima who both checked in with 1221. And as Norie and Elvie faltered in the final game of the series, Rudy de Lima who dished out a timely 196 in game 8 emerged as the Group 3 champion with a total score of 1417 pin falls. Norie Sairat (1385) settled for the 1st runner up position with Elvie Sotio (1377) taking home the 2nd runner up honors.

Finally in the No Tap event of the tournament, Mandy Manalo ruled the Combined Group 1 and 2 field by carding a total 6-game series score 1356 pin falls from his line scores of 213, 236, 190, 253, 219 and 245. Taking the runner up post was Bene Crucero who edged Rod Llait 1267-1260. Group 3 on the other hand saw the vastly improved Janet Shaikh pocketing the prize at stake after posting a final tally of 1381 pin falls through game scores of 186, 266, 210, 245, 236 and 238. Finishing second in this event was Norie Sairat who collected a total score of 1289 pin falls.