3rd October, Shah Alam: First block leader, Purvis Granger claimed the Men's Open Masters title of the 18th Asian Intercity Bowling Championship to seal the Overall Champions title for Paranaque at Megalanes Shah Alam this afternoon.

The ex-PBA American almost lost the title to Shah Alam's Zulmazran Zulkifli when the 40 year-old lost the lead after the 15th game to trail by 3 pins before going into the final position round match. Granger shot 211 against Zulmazran's 181, to claim the title and Paranaque's sixth Gold medal of the five day championship which concluded this afternoon.

The champion ended the 16-game round-robin Masters finals over two days with a total of 3573, 37 pins ahead Zulmazran Zulkifli, who settled for the Silver with 3536. Jakarta's Ryan Lalisang, who was second yesterday, dropped to third for the Bronze medal with 3486.

Reigning World Cup champion, C.J. Suarez of Paranaque, who was sixth before the final match came home to finish fourth with 3414 ahead of Uiwang's Park Ji Kwon in fifth spot with 3401.

Paranaque retained the Challenge Trophy by topping the overall medal tally with 6 Gold, 4 Silver, 2 Bronze medals and two 4th placings for a total of 48 points. Shah Alam is second with 27.5 from 2 Gold, 4 Silver, 2 Bronze medals and two 4th placings while Jakarta is third with 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 3 Bronze medals and a 4th placing on 19.5 points.

Paranaque also topped the Men's and Women's overall medal standings with 25 and 24 points respectively. Participants and officials will be celebrating the Victory Banquet and Closing Ceremony at Laman Budaya in Shah Alam this evening when the Shah Alam will hand over the flag to next year's host, Jakarta.

Photos by Terence Yaw/MTBC.

3rd October, Shah Alam: Happy Soediyono, who was second in the Women's first block Master finals of the 18th Asian Intercity Bowling Championship yesterday, turned the table to capture Jakarta's first Gold medal this morning.

The 29-year-old Indonesian National team member did not start too well in the second block this morning but picked up her game by winning all her remaining seven matches to capture the Gold medal with a total score of 3295 over the grueling 16-game finals.

Team Gold medalist, Zandra Aziela of Shah Alam did superbly to move up from eighth in the first block to take the Silver with a total of 3248, 47 pins from the champion while Singles Gold medalist, Liza Clutario of Paranaque, took home the Bronze medal with 3231.

"This is my first international title since joining the national team in 2000," said Soediyono, whose best result was finishing as first runner-up in the 2003 ABT Malaysia leg. "I also hope to do well on my home ground when I return to Jakarta for the ongoing Indonesia Open," she added.

Her teammates, Putty Armein improved from sixth in the first block to finish fourth with 3084 followed by Doubles Gold medalist, Cecilia Yap of Paranaque in fifth, 3 pins away on 3081. First block leader, Sheanny Gunawan of Jakarta could not sustain the form she displayed yesterday to end up in 11th place.

Paranaque is still leading the Overall Medal tally with one more event in the men's finals remaining, with 5 Gold, 4 Silver, 2 Bronze medals and a 4th placing for a total of 42 points. They look set to retain the Overall Champions title. Shah Alam is second with 24.5 from 2 Gold, 3 Silver, 2 Bronze medals and two 4th placings while Jakarta is third with 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze medals and a 4th placing on 17.5 points.

The men should finish their second block Masters Finals later this afternoon

which will end the 18th Asian Intercity Bowling Championship. Participants and officials will be celebrating the Victory Banquet and Closing Ceremony at Laman Budaya in Shah Alam this evening when the Shah Alam will hand over the flag to next year's host, Jakarta.

Photos by Terence Yaw/MTBC.

2nd October, Shah Alam: Team Silver medalist, Sheanny Gunawan and Happy Soediyono of Jakarta finished 1-2 in the Women's first block Master finals of the 18th Asian Intercity Bowling Championship ahead of Liza Clutario of Paranaque.

A member of the Indonesia national team since 2001, the 28-year-old Gunawan started moderately in the first four games of the 8-game first block finals and stayed with the leaders until she started to fire all cyclinders from game 5 onwards. She returned 246, 200, 216 and 210 in the second half of the round-robin finals to score a total of 1624 for a 17 pins lead.

Happy Soediyono gave Jakarta a 1-2 finish when she took second spot with 1607 to stay ahead of Singles Gold medalist, Liza Clutario of Paranaque who finished third, just 2 pins further away on 1605.

Singles Bronze medalist, Zatil Iman of Shah Alam and Pasay's Yap Seok Kim rounded up the top 5 in fourth and fifth positions with just one pin separating the two on 1569 and 1568 respectively.

The women will continue their second block of 8 games tomorrow (3rd October) in the morning followed by the men in the afternoon.

Photos by Terence Yaw/MTBC.

2nd October, Shah Alam: Two Gold medalist, Purvis Granger of Paranaque, snatched the lead of the Men's first block Masters finals of the 18th Asian Intercity Bowling Championship in the eight game from Jakarta's Ryan Lalisang in second.

Granger who is participating in the Intercity series for the first time, won all his 8 games first block Round-robin Masters finals with a total of 1860 to take over the lead from early pace-setter, Ryan Lalisang from Jakarta.

"Luck must be on my side because I still won games 3 and 4 despite only scoring 175 and 204," said the 40-year-old ex-PBA American. "But I am pleased with games 6 and 7 after I recorded two back-to-back 258s.

However, Granger only has a 13 pins lead over Jakarta's Ryan Lalisang, who took second spot with 1847 followed by host city, Shah Alam's Zulmazran Zulkifli on a total score of 1755.

"I just finished our national championship the day before we arrive here in Malaysia and I am a bit tired," said the 23-year-old third year law student. Ryan finished first runner-up in the Indonesia National championship to veteran David Sitorus.

Lalisang, who scored the first perfect game of the inaugural ABF Tour in Malaysia, will be rushing back to Jakarta as soon the second block finishes tomorrow and will be hoping to do well in the Inodnesia Open underway at Ancol Bowl.

Reigning World Cup champion, C.J. Suarez of Paranaque and Shah Alam's Zaid Izlan tied for fourth position with 1695.

The men will continue their second block of 8 games tomorrow (3rd October) while the women will compete their first block shortly.

Photos by Terence Yaw/MTBC.

1st October, Shah Alam: First block leader, Shah Alam claimed their second Gold medal when they led from start to finish in the Team of 4 event of the 18th Asian Intercity Bowling Championship late this evening.

The Shah Alam women finally struck Gold when Siti Nor Mardyanna, Zandra Aziela, Zatil Iman and anchored by Sarah Yap took the Team event with a total score of 4471, 45 pins ahead of Jakarta.

Putty Armein, Shalima Salsha, Sheanny Gunwan and Happy Sodieyono hung on to their second spot to clinch the Silver medal with 4426. Pasay City won their first medal when the quartet of Kathlynn Lopez, Amy Cheng, Yap Seok Kim and Sheena Go totaled 4398 for the Silver.

Favourites, Paranaque could only manage a fourth placing with 4363 to add 1 point to their medal tally as consolation.

Doubles Silver medalist, Liza del Rosario won her first Gold medal when she topped the Women's All Events final standings with 3514.

Cecilia Yap gave Paranaque a 1-2 finish when she took home the Silver with 3444 ahead of Jakarta's Putty Armein in third with 3422.

Paranaque stretched their lead in the women's medal tally with 3 Gold, 2 Silver and a 4th placing on 22 points with Shah Alam in second with 12.5 points. Jakarta is third with just 7.5 points.

In the overall medal standings, Paranaque is a clear leader with 44 points on 5 Gold, 4 Silver, 1 Bronze medal and a 4th placing. Shah Alam is second with 2 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze and two 4th placings on 21.5 points. In the overall medal standings, Paranaque is a clear leader with 44 points on 5 Gold, 4 Silver, 1 Bronze medal and a 4th placing. Shah Alam is second with 2 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze and two 4th placings on 21.5 points.

The top 16 women have qualified for the Masters final which will be played over two days on 2nd and 3rd October.

Photos by Terence Yaw/MTBC.

1st October, Shah Alam: First block leader, Uiwang captured their first Gold medal when they won the Men's Team of 4 event of the 18th Asian Intercity Bowling Championship by a comfortable margin of 160 pins at Megalanes Shah Alam this evening.

The quartet, comprising of Jo Nam Yi, Yang Tae Bum, Park Ji Kwon and Oh Young Ki, led from start to finish and a total of 5062 to claim the win ahead of favourite, Paranaque.

Doubles Gold medalists, Chester King and Purvis Granger teaming up with Johnson Cheng and reigning World Cup champion, C.J. Suarez found it difficult to topple the leader and had to settle for the Silver medal with 4902.

"We were are glad to have a good balance of strength amongst the team as they could cover each other when one or two of the team members bowl badly," said Mr Lee Kwang Young, Team Manager through an interpreter.

"I am glad for my team to win the important team Gold medal," added Mr Lee. "I am also happy that three of the four made the Masters finals.

Jakarta's Ryan Lalisang, Yuyu Lie Joe Tjam, Mahendra W. and Rudy Goenawan added yet another Bronze medal to their collection when the team finished third with 4578. Noel Palmes, Edgar Barroga, Jayson Carabeo and Jeffrey Carabeo of San Juan were in contention for a medal at the halfway mark but could not sustain the momentum and eventually ended up in fourth with 4559

Purvis Granger claimed Paranaque's fourth Gold medal of the championship by topping the Men's All Events final standings with 3898, 170 pins clear of his nearest rival. Uiwang's Oh Young Ki took the Silver with 3819 while Chester King added the Bronze medal to Paranaque with 3744.

Paranaque men overtook Shah Alam at the top of the medal tally with 13 points. The defending champion has amassed a total of 35 points from 4 Gold, 4 Silver, 1 Bronze medal and a 4th placing and looked set to retain the title. Shah Alam is second with 15.5 points from 1 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze medals and a 4th placing.

The women will complete their second block Team of 4 events at around midnight. The top 16 women in the All Events table at the end of the Team of 4 second block will qualify for the Masters Finals on 2nd and 3rd October.

Photos by Terence Yaw/MTBC.

1st October, Shah Alam: Shah Alam led the Women's Team of 4 first block of the 18th Asian Intercity Bowling Championship, just 37 pins ahead of Jakarta in second and Pasay City in third at Megalanes Shah Alam this afternoon.

Led by Singles Silver medalist, Zandra Aziela, the quartet comprising of Siti Nor Mardyanna, Zatil Iman and anchored by Sarah Yap, amassed a total of 2273 with lines of 782, 752 and 739 to take the first block lead.

"We could not manage to shoot any high game today but we were more consistent throughout the three games," said Zandra. "We all played well today especially Siti Mardyanna and we hope that we can maintain the momentum into the next block," added the 18-year-old student.

Jakarta's Putty Armein, Shalima Salsha, Sheanny Gunawan, and Happy Soediyono did well to keep up with the leaders with a total score of 2236 followed by Pasay City in third with 2226, a further 10 pins away.

Kathlynn Lopez, Amy Cheng, Yap Seok Kim and Sheena Go had lines of 711, 783 and 732 to stay ahead of the stronger quartet from Paranaque City consisting of Liza Clutario, Liza del Rosario, Lucy Cheng and Cecilia Yap who finished fourth place with 2176.

Liza del Rosario continue to lead the Women's All Events with a total of 2916 over 15 games played so far. Putty Armein improve one spot to take up second on 2901 with Doubles Gold medalist, Cecilia Yap moving up to third with 2828.

The women will continue their second block Team of 4 events after the men have completed theirs which will be starting soon at press time. The top 16 women in the All Events table at the end of the Team of 4 second block will qualify for the Masters Finals on 2nd and 3rd October.

Photos by Terence Yaw/MTBC.

1st October, Shah Alam: Singles Bronze medalist, Jo Nam Yi led his teammates to top the Men's Team of 4 first block of the 18th Asian Intercity Bowling Championship, just 14 pins ahead of Paranaque in second and Kuantan in third.

The foursome comprising of Jo Nam Yi, Yang Tae Bum, Park Ji Kwon and Oh Young Ki scored the lanes this morning with 930 in the first game to take an early lead. The quartet dropped slightly in the second with 734 but rebounded with a superb 857 in the third game for a total of 2521.

Hot on their heels was defending champion, Paranaque just 14 pins adrift in second. Doubles Gold medalist, Chester King and Purvis Granger teamed up with reigning World Cup champion, C.J. Suarez and Johnson Cheng to totaled 2507. Kuantan's Ng Chyii Shyan, Lee Boon Hin, Chang Weng Seng and Lim Fung Jong, finished a surprising third with 2331.

Jakarta's Ryan Lalisang, Yuyu Lie Joe Tjam, Mahendra W. and Rudy Goenawan took fourth spot with 2290. Host city, Shah Alam could only manage seventh, 256 pins from the leader on 2235.

Purvis Granger took over the lead of the Men's All Events standings after 15 games by a comfortable 127 on 3275 ahead of teammate, C.J. Suarez in second with 3148 while Singles Gold medalist, Daniel Lim in third 3109.

The women will commence their first block Team of 4 events shortly and the men will complete their second block later this evening. The top 16 men in the All Events table at the end of the Team of 4 second block will qualify for the Masters Finals on 2nd and 3rd October.

Photos by Terence Yaw/MTBC.