PBF 3rd Philippine International Open 2019
Filipino, Singaporean bags Open Masters title
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16th June, Manila: 2019 Asian Youth Singles gold medallist, Merwin Tan of Philippines and 2016 World Youth Masters silver medallist, Amabel Chua of Singapore bagged the Men's and Ladies' Open Masters title at the concluding PBF 3rd Philippine International Open.

Tan, who was slightly disappointed for finishing as first runner-up in yesterday's Youth Boys Masters final, made amends by winning the coveted title after he defeated challenger, Billy Muhammad Islam of Indonesia, 237-193 in the championship match.

The 19-year-old member of the Philippine national team had a nervy start, opening his first and third frames as his opponent struck in the first and third frames. Whilst the Indonesian failed to string together consecutive strikes, Tan recovered striking home from frame 5 to romp home a convincing victory.

The win was the Tan's first major international title since making his senior ranks. Islam, who defeated compatriot and top qualifier, Ryan Lalisang, 267-243 in the high-scoring all-Indonesian semi-final match to face topseed, Tan.


Men's Open Top 3, Billy M. Islam, Merwin Tan and Ryan Lalisang

Tan pocketed the top prize of 750,000 pesos (approx. US$14,400) as champion. Islam settled for 350,000 pesos while Lalisang took home 175,000 pesos. In the earlier Round 2 finals, Tan topped the round with 1887 to advance to the stepladder finals as topseed. Islam totaled 1815 thanks to a huge game of 289 in the fifth to finish second while Lalisang fired a big game of 254 for a total of 1747 to rob defending champion, Sam Cooley of Australia a place in the stepladder finals.

In the Ladies' Open division, Amabel Chua of Singapore denied 2017 champion and topseed, Lara Posadas-Wong of Philippines her second victory after the 19-year-old 2019 Asian Youth Team gold medallist, edged the Filipino, 212-190 in the title match.

Posadas-Wong got off to an unlucky start by conceeding a split in the opening frame. But Chua did not take the opportunity to pull away by stringing consecutive strikes in the first four frames. Chua eventually found her line to reel in three strikes-in-a-row from frame 5.

Although Posadas-Wong responded with a double in the sixth and seventh frames, another split in the eighth frame more or less decided the tie in favour of the Singaporean. Chua, who had finished second with 1656, 74 pins behind Posadas-Wong in the earlier Round 2 finals, ousted third-seed, Aldila Indryati of Indonesia, 202-192 to earn a crack at the title.

Chua took home the top prize of 300,000 pesos (approx. US$5,770) as champion leaving Posadas-Wong settling for 150,000 pesos as first runner-up. Indryati picked up 75,000 pesos as second runner-up. Reigning AMF World Cup champion, Krizziah Tabora of Philippines missed the cut for the stepladder finals by four pins finishing fourth.


Ladies' Open Top 3, Posadas-Wong, Amabel Chua and Aldila Indryati

A total of 87 Men's Open from 12 countries and a total of 32 Ladies' Open from four countries competed in the week-long PBF 3rd Philippine International Open held at Coronado Lanes, Starmall EDSA in Mandaluyong City. Mr Arnold Augustine, Commissioner of the Philippines Sports Commission along with Mr Steve Pobles, President of PBF and Ms Bong Coo, Secretary General of PBF were on hand to present the prizes and trophies to the winners.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Manila, Philippines.


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