11th June, Manila: Former National youth, Joonee Gatchalian defeated Korea's Choi Bok Eum to emerge as the Men's Open Masters Champion of the 33rd Boysen-PBC International Open while Sarah Yap ousted defending champion, Liza del Rosario for the Ladies' crown.

Top-seed Joonee Gatchalian of the Philippines, defeated challenger Choi Bok Eum 200-189 in the crucial second game after Gatchalian was forced into the sudden-death final match. The Youth Boy's Masters champion, who scored a perfect game in the second Men's stepladder match to face the top-seed, took the first game 257-205.

But the 17 year-old could not find the strikes he needed to overcome the champion and eventually settled for runner-up.

Choi was awesome when he string together 12 consecutive strikes for the second perfect game of the tournament when he knocked out third-seed, Tyrone Ongpauco (159) of the Philippines and winner of the first match, Jonathan Lim (231) of Malaysia with the 300.

Malaysia's hopeful, Jonathan Lim settled for fourth despite knocking out 5th-seed, Kim Jong Wook (177) of Korea and 6th-seed Chester King (235) with a high game of 269 in the first stepladder match.

Filipino, Frederick Ong (3425) missed the cut for the stepladder finals after finishing seventh ahead of renigning World Cup champion, C.J. Suarez (3432) in eighth. Malaysia's Ben Heng (3413) and Alex Liew (3376) finished in the top 10 in ninth and tenth respectively.

In the Ladies' division, top-seed, Sarah Yap of Malaysia also had to work for her title when she was extended into the second game after she loosing to second-seed and defending champion, Liza del Rosario 187-223 in the first stepladder match.

But the the determination and energy displayed by the champion silent a large crowd here at GVCC Bowling Centre when she cruised to a 258-215 victory over Rosario to take the ladies' crown.

Rosario settled for runner-up despite ousting third-seed Kim Hyo Min (184) and edging out winner of the first match, Esther Cheah (222) of Malaysia with 226 for a crack at retaining her title. Kim settled for third while Esther improved to fourth after she knocked out fourth-seed, Koo Hyun Jee (184) and fifth-seed Gye Min Young (192) both from Korea with 205 in the first match.

"I was pleased to bowl consistently right through the Philiipine Open," Yap said, immediately after the final. "I treated every game as it came as every ball and every situation is different.

"When I lost the first game of the title match against Liza, I told myself to work harder in the second and stay focused on my own game. I was able to shut out the noise of the partisan crowd, all cheering wildly for Liza."

The top 16 men and ladies will now prepare for another challenge in the ABF Tour Philippines Leg, which will be held at the same centre. Round 1 and Round 2 matches will take place tomorrow, 12th June while the semifinal and final matches will be played on the Sunday, 13th June. The Day 2 matches will be telecast LIVE on Philippines NBN Channel 4, Malaysia Astro Supersport, and Singapore Starhub, all LIVE at 16:00 Singapore time.

Photos courtesy of Chucky Marcelo, Philippines Bowling Congress.

11th June, Manila: World Championship Team Gold medalist, Sarah Yap of Malaysia snatched the lead in the final game to take top-seed of the Ladies' Open Masters in the 33rd Boysen-PBC International Open.

Second in the first block, Liza del Rosario was on fire when the second block started this morning. The defending champion took over the lead from first block leader, Kim Hyo Min of Korea with a string of 200-plus games until the 14th game when she had a low game of 174 which allowed other challengers to catch up.

ABF Tour Malaysia first runner-up, Sarah Yap of Malaysia, who was third yesterday, was the only bowler in hot pursuit and had caught up to within 23 pins before the 16th and final game. Yap bowled 235 while Rosario could only managed 201 to give away the top spot to Yap. The World CHampionship Team Gold medalist, completed the second block as top-seed for the stepladder finals with a total score of 3484, 11 pins ahead of Rosario, who had 3473.

The strong Korean trio of Kim Hyo Min (3397), Koo Hyun Jee (3395) and Youth Girl's Masters champion, Gye Min Young (3376) took up third to fifth places while Malaysian national rookie, Esther Cheah finished with a 256 in her last game to snatch the final spot for the stepladder in sixth with 3364.

The ladies will commence their stepladder finals after the men has completed their second block of 8 games later this afternoon. LIVE scores will be available at this site.

Photos courtesy of Chucky Marcelo, Philippines Bowling Congress.

10th June, Manila: World Tenpin Team Cup Gold medalist, Jonathan Lim of Malaysia scored 751, 3-game series in the first block to take the lead in the Men's Open Masters finals of the 33rd Boysen-PBC International Open.

The 19 year-old 2003 National champion, sent the scores soaring as he slowly made up grounds and with three more games left, Jonathan knocked down a 751 series to take the lead. The leader scored all his first block of eight games above the 200-mark with lines of 201, 226, 208, 246, 216, 238, 256 and 257 for a total of 1848.

The lead changed hands several times during the hotly contested finals and three more game to go, Filipino Joonee Gatchalian looking set to move into the second block as the leader. And despite scoring a 711 in his last three games, Gatchalian had to settle for second with a total of 1840 and just 8 pins away.

Youth Boy's Masters champion, Choi Bok Eum again impressed to finished

third with 1818, a further 22 pins way. Second game leader, Kim Jong Wook of Korea took fourth place with 1800 ahead of midway leader, Ben Heng of Malaysia, who ended up in fifth spot with 1788.

Alex Liew (MAS-1746), CJ Suarez (PHI-1745), Tyrone Ongpauco (PHI-1736), Markwin Tee (PHI-1730) and Sithiphol K. (THA-1727) completed the top 1- from sixth to tenth respectively.

Before the start of the first block finals, a roll-off was held to break the tie bewtween ABF Tour Malaysia champion, Ryan Lalisang of Indonesia, Park Sang Pil of Korea and Yasuo Sakashi when their qualifying scores tied at 912.

Lalisang scored 183 and Park, 199 to make the finals after the roll-off while Sakanashi only managed 180. The men will continue their second block finals tomorrow (11th June) and the top 6 at the end of the roll-off will make the cut for the stepladder finals.

Photos courtesy of Chucky Marcelo, Philippines Bowling Congress.

10th June, Manila: 17th Asian Championship Trios Gold medalist, Kim Hyo Min of Korea, snatched the lead in the final series of the 8-games Ladies' Open 1st Block Masters finals of the 33rd Boysen-PBC International Open this evening.

Kim, who also finished second runner-up in the 4th Milo International All Stars in Malaysia, took over the lead in the last series after knocking down 256 and 225 for a total of 1784 and a 26-pin lead over defending champion, Liza del Rosario of the Philippines, who totalled 1758.

ABF Tour Malaysia first runner-up, Sarah Yap of Malaysia, who was within the top 10 before the last two games, shot 197 and 289 to stormed into third spot with 1742 while early leader, Happy Soediyono of Indonesia dropped to fourth after failing to maintain a hot streak up to the sixth game on a total of 1719.

Sharon Limansantoso did well to stay with the leaders to take up fifth spot with 1711 followed by Youth Girl's Masters champion, Gye Min Young in sixth spot with 1704.

Putty Armein (INA-1703), Kwon Yong Pil (KOR-1696), Koo Hyun Jee (KOR-1691) and Evelyn Chan (SIN-1673) finished in the top 10 from 7th to 10th places respectively.

The women will continue their second block finals tomorrow (11th June) and the top 6 at the end of the roll-off will make the cut for the stepladder finals.

Photos courtesy of Keith Hale, Bowlers' Journal.

10th June, Manila: Filipino Ezzie Gan of TBAM-Prima and Dinah Basuel of Team Unique captured the Men's and Ladies' Graded Masters titles of the 33rd Boysen-PBC International Open at GVCC Bowling Centre this afternoon.

The 28 year-old flight steward of Philippine Airlines, was in fantastic form scoring an impressive 2527 to average 210.58 for a well deserved win. Gan, who has been bowling for 19 years and has three perfect game, had only scored three under-200 games throughout the 12 games finals to win comfortably by 62 pins.

Nilo Penado of TCBA snatched second place after a high game of 235 in the 12th and final game with 2465, just 1 pin from Alejandro Uy of PTBA, who settled for third with 2464.

PBAP-Bowlmart Benedict Tiong (PBAP-Bowlmart - 2462), Jomar Jumpao ( BTA-Prima - 2453) and Willie Natividad (MTBA - 2449) completed the top 6 from fourth to sixth palces respectively.

In the Ladies' division, Dinah Basuel of Team Unique captured the Masters title with a score of 2420 and an average of 201.67. The 31 year-old dentist, who has been bowling for 6 years now, was just 13 pins ahead 13 year-old Shalima Zalsha from Indonesia, who knocked down 2407 for second while third place went to Joan Yambao of TBAM-Prima with 2173.

The Ladies' Open Masters first block will be starting soon and LIVE game-by-game scores will be available here.

Photos courtesy of Chucky Marcelo, Philippines Bowling Congress.