RIYADH — Marvin Arocena and Denden Ponsaran captured the most coveted Masters Event Champion crown in the recently concluded UFTBR Kalayaan Cup 2016, an annual bowling tournament in celebration of the Philippine Independence Day at the Universal Bowling Center (UBC) here recently. Both Arocena and Ponsaran are first time Masters Event champions. Arocena came 8th place in the event qualifying round and faced a formidable opponent in the quarterfinals, Riyadh's top bowler Ernee Noto. After narrowly beating Noto, Arocena defeated American Daniel Bredeck in the semifinals. The final 2-game series was closely fought with the other finalist Benny Mondoy ahead by a slim margin and needed only a spare in the last frame to clinch the title. Luck, however, was on Arocena's side as Monody failed to convert yielding the crown to Arocena by just one pin. Ponsaran had a similar route toward the crown as she had to slug it out with Riyadh's top lady bowlers. She had her good game going in the elimination round and was able to sustain her form during the semifinals and finals as well. She beat Bella Sabico in the semis and still came strong in the final against Cheng Herosa. Results Men's Division: Arocena - champion, Mondoy – first runner-up, Bredeck and Che Che Villanueva – second runners-up and Noto, Ruel Pingol, Edgar Buenaventura and Andro Tismo – third runners-up. Ladies Division: Ponsaran – champion, Herosa – first runner-up, Sabico and neophyte bowler Merha Milahad — second runners-up. Rotunda teams finally took the limelight, with Rotunda One (Ed Cruz, Gerry Cervantes, Joebert Pomado and Pingol) bagging the Team Event crown. First-time participant, Comsofil (Nomer Cenil, Jun Fulay, Larry Manalo and Edgar Badeo) came second with Rotunda Two (Rey Bautista, Villanueva, Rocky Manipon and Doy Del Moral) third, Habagat Uno (Noto, Stephen Solomon, Rudy Usudan and Alfred Valencia) fourth and La Solidaridad (Arocena, Rodel Maranca, Rico Feria and Jojo Gabriel) fifth. The tandem of Cesar De Mesa and Cecille Solomon came from behind to grab the Doubles Event crown followed by Arocena and Gabriel (second), and Mondoy and Buenaventura (third). Andro Tismo was the Men's Singles Event champion with Stephen Solomon and Cef Chua second and third, respectively. Lani Dela Cruz bagged the Ladies' Singles Event crown with Ponsaran second and Vicky Vitug third. Noto is the All Events champion in the men's division with Villanueva and Solomon second and third. Dela Cruz also captured the ladies division All Events championship with Cecille Solomon second and Haidee Urbano third. The bowling event was organized by the Unified Filipino Tenpin Bowlers of Riyadh (UFTBR) with the main working committee composed of De Mesa, Noto, Armin Isles, Dennis Durens, Rita Sison, KC Enriquez, Bong Solomon, Cecille Solomon, Phines Pingol, Pau Feria, Steve Perez and Irene Pua. Thirty teams participated and the 120 bowlers together with their families, supporters and friends packed the bowling center during the two-day event. UFTBR expressed its heartfelt thanks to the participants and the event's main sponsor zeejprint.com together with Philippine Airlines (PAL), MetroBank, Al-Marai, Modern Electronics (Sony), Jumpshot Photo Booth and Sky Freight. Saad Shaikh, sales and marketing manager of zeejprint.com, and Cris Ledesma Munoz, PAL sales executive - Central Province, KSA, graced the awarding ceremonies. Both Masters Event winners received a round-trip ticket to Manila from PAL, while zeejprint.com provided all the trophies, event uniforms, roll up and pop up. Champions in the other events also received special gifts from Sony.
