2nd August, Manila: 2008 Chinese Taipei Open champion, Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong, won his first 2009 title after defeating Filipino, Chester King in the championship match of the 12th PBAP Bevida-Storm International Classic on Sunday.

Wu, the 25-year-old winner of three international titles last year and the 2008 ABF Tour Grand Slam crown, was ouclassed by challenger, Chester King, 171-256 in the first game of the title match.

But the Hong Kong national kegler bounced back with a scorcher winning the deciding match, 279-236 to win his first international title this year. In the second stepladder match, King edged Thailand's Phoemphun Yakasem, 40-27 ninth and tenth frame tie breaker after a deadlock at 220 to advance to the finals.

No. 2 seed, Daniel Lim of Malaysia settled for third after the second match in which he lost to King with 206.

Phoemphun, who was seeded fourth, had earlier won the first match against fifth seed, Remy Ong of Singapore and sixth seed, Zatil Iman of Malaysia, 223-190-206 to proceed to the second match.

The champion posted a record-breaking 8-game series of 1966 to take pole position in the earlier semifinals. Daniel Lim did well to take up second with 1844, 122 pins adrift Wu while day 2 leader, Chester King of the Philippines finished third with 1835.

Thailand's Phoemphun Yakasem fourth with 1815 with 2009 Bahrain Open champion, Remy Ong of Singapore fifth with 1801 and World Games Doubles bronze medalist, Zatil Iman making the cut for the stepladder finals in sixth with 1765.

Day 1 leader, Surasak Manuwong missed the cut by just 1 pin from Zatil despite shooting 249 in his final game. Hall of Famer, Paeng Nepomuceno of the Philippines and Paolo Valdez finished eighth and ninth. Defending champion, Syafiq Ridhwan of Malaysia picked up tenth spot with 1714.

Photos courtesy of Pearl Bowlers Association.

1st August, Manila: Singaporeans dominated the Classified division finals of the 12th PBAP Bevida-Storm International Classic with Jeremy Fang leading a 1-2-3 finish to claim the title on Saturday.

Jeremy Fang, who ended the 8-game semifinals with a total of 1797 to advance into the stepladder finals as topseed, lost to challenger, Andrew Lee 180-187 in the first game of the all-Singapore championship match.

But Fang bounced back to edge Lee, 223-210 to claim the Classified title. The No. 3 seed, Lee earned a crack at the title after he trashed No. 2 seed, Gina Lim of Singapore and winner of the first match, Chen Po Yu of Chinese Taipei, 221-155-166.

Lim settled for third spot while Chen, who defeated fourth seed, Dennie Ramirez of the Philippines and sixth seed, Rober Baker Jr. of Guam, 214-166-198, settled for fourth.

Singapore's national youth and southpaw, Gina Lim had earlier, set a blistering pace with a 267 opening game in the semifinals but a poor 157 in her second game saw her trailing her compatriot, Jeremy Fang, who shot an almost perfect game of 297 to take over the running.

Despite a lowly 151 in Fang's third game, the ex-Singapore national recovered to roll 209, 209, 226, 238 and 225 to end the semi with 1797. Gina Lim trailed Fang all the way to settle for second with 1700.

Andrew Lee gave Singapore a field day when he finished third with 1697 ahead of Dennie Ramirez of the Philippines fourth with 1663 and Chinese Taipei's Chen Po Yu fifth with 1660. Guam's Robert Baker Jr. took the final stepladder spot in sixth with 4762.

Photos courtesy of Pearl Bowlers Association.

31st July, Manila: Hussain Al-Suwaidi of UAE showed why he is Asia's No. 1 by ending the third qualifying round of the 12th PBAP Bevida-Storm International Classic in pole position Friday.

Hussain, who won the ABF Tour Kuwait and Thailand leg title and runner-up in this year's Saudi Open, claimed pole position after posting 1659 in the third and final block to add to his two blocks score of 3494 for a 24-game total of 5153.

Overnight leader, Chester King of the Philippines managed only 1599 to settle for second with 5112 while Singapore's spinner, Ong She-Na improved from seventh to third with 5006 thanks to an 8-pin handicap.

2008 Philippines Open and ABF Tour Philippines leg champion, Benshir Layoso of the Philippines, notched up a superb 1745 to haul himself up from eighth to fourth with 5065.

Singapore's Remy Ong, who shot the highest 8-games series of 1867, was the biggest mover from 23rd to fifth with a total of 5043. First day leader, Surasak Manuwong of Thailand took up sixth position with 5026.

Aaron Kong earned the best Malaysian performer finishing seventh with 5022 with Thai Pasut Punsanthaveekul, Flipino Paolo Valdez and Malaysia's Daniel Lim rounding up the top 10. Thai Annop Arromsaranon made the top 24 cut in 24th position with 4742.

Malaysia's Aris Ardilla ended the third block to top the youth division with 4825 ahead of Filipino Mades Arles second on 4824. ABF Tour Bahrain leg champion, Eric Tseng finished third with 4818 with overnight leader, Rickle Kam fourth on 4767.

Singapore's Ong She-Na topped the Classified division with a 24-game total of 4874 with Mades Arles and Chinese Taipei's Chen Po Yu second and third with 4824 and 4820 respectively.

The top 24 in the Classified division and top 24 in the Open division advanced to the semifinals on August 1 and 2 for another 8 games scratch. The top 6 will proceed to the stepladder finals.

Photos courtesy of Pearl Bowlers Association.

30th July, Manila: Asian Championship two gold medalist, Chester King of the Philippines showed his winning form by rolling the highest series of 1838 on day 2 of 12th PBAP Bevida-Storm International Classic to take over the lead.

Eighth in the first block with 1675, the 29-year-old King stormed home with 278 in the eighth and final game in the second block to take over the lead of the field with an aggregate 16-game total of 3513.

Overnight leader, Surasak Manuwong of Thailand posted 1730 in the second block to settle for second with 3507, just 6 pins adrift. ABF Tour Kuwait and Thailand leg champion, Hussain Al-Suwaidi of UAE improved from ninth to take up third with 3494.

Malaysia's best performer and third in the first block, Daniel Lim dropped to sixth with 3337 while Phoemphun Yakasem, who was second overnight, fell to 19th.

Rickle Kam of Hong Kong continued to lead the Youth division with 3278 with Filipino, Mades Arles moving up to second with 3261. Malaysia's Aris Ardilla finished third with 3219.

Robert Baker Jr., who was tenth in the open division, took over the lead from Chinese Taipei's Chen Po Yu in the Classified division with 3296. Mades and Chen finished second and third with 3261 and 3225.

The players will complete their third and final qualifying block tomorrow. The top 24 in the Classified division and top 24 in the Open division will advance to the semifinals on August 1 and 2 for another 8 games scratch.

Photos courtesy of Pearl Bowlers Association.

29th July, Manila: Thai national bowlers, Surasak Manuwong and Phoemphun Yakasem rolled 1777 and 1758 in the opening block of the 12th PBAP Bevida-Storm International Classic to take a one-two lead at Paeng's Midtown Bowl.

Surasak, the 30-year-old 2009 Canon Cup champion, set a cracking pace with a 238 opening game in the 8-game first block in the second squad to lead the field. He followed it up with 213 and a high game of 263 allowed him to move clear of his opponent.

The 2007 SEA Games Doubles gold medalist ended the block with 1777, 19 pins ahead of left-hander, Phoemphun Yakasem storming home to give Thailand a one-two finish. Phoemphun totaled 1758 followed by Squad C leader, Daniel Lim of Malaysia third with 1733.

2008 Philippines Open champion, Benshir Layoso, who led Squad A with 1660 settled for 12th position when the three squads completed the first block. Guam's Robert Baker Jr. and Hong Kong's Wu Siu Hong rounded up the top 5.

2009 Singapore Open Youth champion, Rickle Kam of Hong Kong led the Youth division with 1700 which also put him sixth in the open division. Malaysia's Siti Syazwani tied with Kam while Squad B youth leader, Mades Arles claimed third spot with 1634.

The players will resume with the second block tomorrow, divided into three squads with Squad B at 9.00am followed by Squad C in the afternoon and Squad A in the evening. The third block will be held on Friday, July 31.

The top 24 at the end of the three preliminary qualifying blocks will advance to the semifinals for another 8 games from scratch. The top 6 will make the cut for the stepladder finals on Sunday, August 2.

The 12th edition of the immensely popular classic is organized by Pearl Bowlers Association of Paranaque and sponsored by Bevida Distilled Drinking Water and Storm Products Inc. The official airline is Philippines Airlines and official hotel is Heritage Hotel Manila.

Other sponsors are Wave Products, Roto Grip, AZO, EGI, Premiere Insurance, MOC and the Philippines Bowling Congress. The major sponsor is Euro-Med Laboratories and the official media partner is Manila Bulletin.

Photos courtesy of Pearl Bowlers Association.