Boosted by his class C handicap, Johnny Macalintal bowled squarely against the titans of the tournament till he convincingly clinched the men's title with 461, making top favorite Ed Sardi?a as his bridesmaid with 437 at the end of the 12-bowler race two-game finals of the Filipino Expatriate Damayan Bowling Group July Bowlfest at the Bowling City here. Macalintal was actually third with 2,222 nine-game qualifying total with Ferdie Coloma being top qualifier with 2,323. Coloma also recorded the hi-game at 265. Marlon Heredia was second with 2,275 among the four class C direct finalists wherein Jett Santos was fourth with 221. Skipping semifinals via express lane were Ed Viray and Mart Lising with 2,173 and 2,156 respectively. Viray and Lising were joined by defending champion Joey Calapatia who topped the four-game semifinals. But playoff survivor Robert Stone subdued these three franchising this newcomer to the finals. Also finalists were direct-to-final scorers Rolly Vistal and Sol Cuenca who were joined by Edward Botardo who survived Alex Mallari, Albert Abug, Ver Jasa, Paolo Allego and Harold Cardenas on Class D shootout. Jeff San Pedro was direct finalist while Melvin Lising advanced via beating Archie Santos and Tommy de Castro on class B. Perfect gamer Bobby Baraquel toppled the finalist column with his 2,441, the highest series in the tournament. Sardi?a survived Rommel Marasigan in the semifinals and beat express bowler Ric Reformado and waiting player Rudy Punzalan on the playoff. Showing preparedness Macalintal alarmed finalists by readily topping first salvo with 242 on 218 scratch to look down on Sardi?a, Baraquel and Vistal who were the nearest contenders with 229, 219 and 217 respectively. Every finalist then struggled on the ultimate game with Lising and Coloma showing their remarkable drives. But with Macalintal responding on frame by frame blows the Gulf Express station manager succeeded in safeguarding his lead at 201 scratch to take home the title at 461 series. Sardi?a humbly congratulated Macalintal to show acceptance of defeat at 437 while Lising startled contenders when he suddenly seized third spot on his 225 chase for a 428 challenge. Baraquel pulled sigh of relief when he escaped San Pedro by a pin at 218 and 217 for fourth and fifth positions respectively. Coloma posted himself at sixth with 412 followed by Heredia 405, Santos 405, Vistal 401, Stone 383, Cuenca 373 and Botardo 348. Bing Baraquel triumphantly defended her title via patience and determination as top challenger Edna Domingo widely left her at 239-206 on the first game while Sally Sa?osa and Evelyn Santoc stayed on striking distance at 197 and 195. Ester Santoc and Nurissa Ramos tried overcoming lane problem with 179 and 172. It was on the last frame of the final game wherein Baraquel got paid off of her yearning. A minute error which gave Domingo a split for an open last frame for a 204, reinstalled Baraquel on the pedestal with her last game of 238 for final tallies of 444-443. Sa?osa maintained third spot with 373, Ramos managed to fourth with 371 while the Evelyn and Ester got the consolation prizes. Semifinalists were Aisah Silabay, Puri Parena, Eloisa Fernandez, Minda Guevarra, Delia Felismenia, Cherry Heredia, Vangie Lim and Fatima Jintarat. __
