12th June, Manila: Malaysia and Philippines shares honours on Day 1 of the ABF Tour - Philippines taking two semifinal berths a piece and sending seeded bowlers crashing out in Round 1.

Ben Heng of Malaysia scored the highest game en-route to a semifinal spot, joined by teammate Alex Liew in the men's division while Filipinas, Irene Benitez and Jojo Canare secured two of the four women's semifinal spots.

The semifinal and final matches will be telecast LIVE on Philippines NBN Channel 4, Malaysia's Astro Supersport and Singapore's Starhub at 16:00 (Hong Kong/Singapore time), Sunday June 13.

World Tenpin Team Cup Gold medalist, Ben Heng had to work hard to overcome his Round 1 opponent, Jeff Chan of the Philippines, matching strides for strides until Heng pulled away scoring the highest game of the tournament so far when he defeated Chan 268-248. Heng then went on to knocked out another Filipino and second-seed, Tyrone Ongpauco, 237-199 in Round 2 to book the first semifinal berth.

His teammate, Alex Liew was a bit fortunate when he edged out Filipino, Biboy Rivera 169-163 in his Round 2 match to give Malaysia their second semifinal spot. Liew gave his teammate and third-seed, Jonathan Lim a hard time when he easily took Round 1 match 245-187 earlier. Newly-crowned Philippines Open champion, Joonee Gatchalian crashed out in Round 1 after he lost to fellow-countryman and reigning AMF World Cup champion, C.J. Suarez 177-198 while fourth-seed, Chester King also made an early exit after being edged out by tour debutant, Arnold Lecaros, 209-246.

The final semifinal spot went to Thailand's Sitiphol Kunaksorn when he ousted Lecaros, 221-183 in Round 2. Sitiphol will meet C.J. Suarez in the first semifinal match while it will be an all-Malaysian clash between Alew Liw and Ben Heng in the other match.

In the women's division, ABF Tour Thailand semifinalist, Irene Benitez made her second conecutive semifinal appearance when she disposed off newcomer, Filipinas Apple Posadas, 207-192. The 31 year-old businesswomen from Paranque City had earlier sent newly-crowned Philippines Open champion and top-seed, Sarah Yap of Malaysia crashing out in Round 1, 190-188.

Meanwhile, 2003 AMF World Cup runner-up, Jojo Canare gave Philippines their second semifinal spot when she edged out Indonesia's Happy Soediyono, 227-225. Canare had earlier disposed off World Championship Trios Gold mdealist, Liza Clutario, 229-178.

Malaysia's national rookie, Esther Cheah almost made her second

consecutive semifinal appearance but was knocked out by Indonesia's Putty Armein in Round 2, 183-215. Armein won her first round match against current leader in the ABF Tour rankings, Alice Tay of Singapore, 214-188 before moving on to the semifinal.

Former World Ranking Masters champion, Jennifer Tan outclassed, 2003 Singapore Open champion, Evelyn Chan, 214-149 to take up the last semifinal spot. Tan had earlier snatched victory over second-seed, Liza del Rosario in Round 1 with 176 to 156.

Putty Armein is matched up against Jennifer Tan in the first women's semifinal match while the second match will be an all-Filipino affair bewteen Irene Benitez and Jojo Canare.

The ABF Tour comprises six Legs and a Grand Final, the Tournament of Champions. Each Leg will be staged over two competition days where the top 16 men and 16 women bowlers from the preceding International Open Masters Event (Open Grade) will compete in a one-game match play knock-out competition for the individual men's and women's titles.

The Tournament of Champions will be staged over four competition days where the top 16 men and 16 women bowlers (based on ABF Tour ranking points), plus two additional wildcard entries from the West Asia region (thus totalling 18 men in the men's division), will qualify to compete over four rounds of competition for the coveted men's and women's ABF Tour Champion titles.

The ABF Tour - Philippines Day 2 matches will be telecast LIVE on local Philippines NBN Channel 4, Malaysia's Astro Supersport and Singapore's Starhub on June 13th at 16:00 (Hong Kong/Singapore time). Highlights of the leg will also be shown in the six countries where the tour are being held. It will also be broadcast later in other parts of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, central Asia, China and Australasia with an estimated audience of around 75 million.

For further information and details please contact ABF Tour Committee Marketing and Event Management Division at Tel: (852) 2810 5191; Fax: (852) 28105192; Mr. Ritchie Lai (Mobile: (852) 93598669; email: ritchie.lai@tndgroup.com) or Mr. Kelvin Pong (Mobile: (852) 9100 0958; email: Kelvin.pong@tndgroup.com).