18th June, Manila: Local tour debutant, Apple Posadas became the youngest Filipina to make the semifinals of ABF Tour Philippines leg dominated by the Malaysian women on Day 1 at Playdium Bowling Center.

Posadas, 19, who is the captain of the Philippines National Youth team, prevented an all-Malaysian semifinals when she outclassed her opponent, Lai Kin Ngoh of Malaysia, 213-182 to take up the thid semifinal spot. Posadas had earlier knocked out Chinese Taipei's Wang Ya Ting, 226-203 in Round 1 before the match with Lai.

Undoubtedly the Malaysian women stole the limelight on Day as as they charged through to the semifinals. Thai Open 2ndrunner-up, Choy Poh Lai stemmed her authority when she demolished newly-crowned Philippines

Open champion and top-seed, Tsai Hsin Yi, 225-183 on Lanes 13-14. Choy went on to edge local hopeful, Jojo Canare in Round 2, 198-179 to take up the first semifinal spot.

Shalin Zulkifli knocked out World Ranking Masters 1st runner-up and team-mate, Wendy Chai is a high scoring game, 246-238 joined by Malaysian Open champion, Siti Safiyah of Malaysia. The 14-year-old was lucky to squeeze into the semifinal by beating Singapore's Jennifer Tan, 174-159.

In the men's division, Filipinos, C.J. Suarez and Markwin Tee gave the large crowd at the Playdium Bowling Center plenty to cheer about when both of them marched into the semifinals with ease. Suarez, the 2003 AMF World Cup champion defeated ABF Tour Thailand leg champion, Yannaphon Larpapharat of Thailand, 188-173 for the first semifinal spot on Lanes 13-14.

Markwin Tee put an end to Malaysia's charge when he outclassed Alex Liew, 234-182 in the other Round 2 match. Tee had earlier ousted newly-crowned Philippines Open champion, Chester King, 211-199 in his first round match.

ABF Tour Kuwait leg champion, Andrew Frawley went on a rampage when he posted another high game when he knocked out Thai's challenger, Surasak Manuwong in yet another high game thriller. The Aussie got the

better of Surasak, claiming the match and a semifinal spot, 254-242. Frawley recorded the hgihest game so far after he defeated another Thai, Kritchawat Jampako, 259-223 in Round 1.

UAE's Shaker Al-Hassan took the last semifinal spot he easily ousted Singapore's Remy Ong, 226-163 in Round 1 and four-time AMF World Cup champion and Hall of Famer, Paeng Nepomuceno of the Philippines, 216-195 in the earlier round.

Markwin Tee will face Andrew Frawley in the first semifinal match while the two southpaws, Shaker Al-Hassan will meet local favourite, C J Suarez in the other match. In the women's division, Choy Poh Lai has a tall task to try and beat her stronger opponent and team-mate, Shalin Zulkifli while two youngster, Siti Safiyah and Apple Posadas will battle it out in the other women's semifinal match.

The ABF Tour will comprise eight Legs and a Grand Final, the Tournament of Champions. Each Leg will be staged over one or 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), will qualify to compete over four rounds of competition for the coveted men's and women's ABF Tour Champion titles.

ABF Tour - Philippines Leg is organized by ABF in association with Philippines Bowling Congress, supported by Asian Bowling Digest, co-sponsored by Smart Buddy, Playdium Bowling Center and the local TV station, NBN.

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).