13th June, Manila: Filipinas Irene Benitez and Alex Liew of Malaysia claimed their maiden win after capturing the Women's and Men's title of the ABF Tour Philippines at the GVCC Bowling Centre this afternoon.

Benitez defeated former World Ranking Masters champion, Jennifer Tan of Singapore 222-201, in the women's finals to the delight of the local crowd while Alex Liew triumphed over reigning AMF World Cup champion, C.J. Suarez, 267-232 in the men's.

Both Benitez and Tan started off their match on a moderate pace until the champion got a turkey from frame 6 onwards which sent the local crowd wild. The 31 year-old businesswoman from Paranque City began to pull away thereafter and finished off with a double in the tenth frame for a score of 222. Her challenger could not keep pace with the champion to eventually completed her game with 201.

"I have been very lucky throughout the tournament and I was so happy to

even reach the finals," said Benitez. "To win it in front of so many supporters gives me event greater satisfaction.

Benitez had earlier edged out 2003 AMF World Cup runner-up, Jojo Canare 228-223 in a closely fought semifinals to make the finals while Tan easily knocked out Indonesia's Putty Armein, 215-163 before going down to the champion.

The match between the champion Liew and Suarez was a thriller to say the least. Suarez opened his account with a four-bagger to take the early lead while Liew did not get his engine fired up until the third frame. Liew was on a rampage when he strung together 9 consecutive strikes from frame 3 onwards to take over the lead. Although Suarez fought back galantly, the runner-up just could not narrow the gap and eventually ended up with 232 while Liew finished it off in style with a high game of 267.

"I was determined not to let the game and title slip away from me after coming this far," said the 28 year-old proshop supervisor. "I kept saying to myself that I need to stay focussed and be consistent in my shots," added the beaming champion.

Liew reached the final after defeating teammate, Ben Heng 214-194 in the first men's semifinal match while Suarez snatched the victory over Thailand's Sitiphol Kunaksorn, 234-214 in the other match.

The ABF Tour will comprise 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 semifinals and finals were telecast LIVE over Philippines NBN Channel 4, Malaysia's Astro Supersport and Singapore's Starhub 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 or by visiting ABF Tour official website: www.abftour.com".

For Media enquiry, please contact ABF Media Director, Ms Lynne Clay at Tel: +61 419 444 280 or email lynne.clay@tenpin.org.au. Visit www.abftour.com for LIVE scores.

Photos courtesy of Philippines Bowling Congress.

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

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.

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 will comprise 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.

For Media enquiry, please contact ABF Media Director, Ms Lynne Clay at Tel: +61 419 444 280 or email lynne.clay@tenpin.org.au. Visit www.abftour.com for LIVE scores.

Photos courtesy of Keith Hale, Bowlers' Journal.