Richie misses perfect game by single pin

MANILA, Philippines - Former national standout Richie Poblete came close to scoring the first perfect game in the 39th Philippine International Open Tenpin Bowling Championships at the Paeng’s Midtown Bowl at the Robinson’s Place in Ermita, Manila Monday night.

But for the 10th straight day of competitions, the lanes proved unyielding as Poblete settled for a 299 in the third game of his three-game series after missing the head pin in the12th and final frame. A perfect game would’ve worth P50,000 courtesy of Amway for a perfect score.

As consolation, Poblete, who earlier had lines of 221 and 227, vaulted to the top of the men’s Class O singles with a total card of 767 in the event sponsored by UPHS Dalta and Jonelta Systems, Pagcor Sports, DOT, PSC, PCSO, Amway and Colgate Palmolive.

Relegated to second spot was national pool member Benshir Layoso (732) while teammate and defending men’s masters champion Raoul Miranda (710) slipped to third place in the kegfest serving as part of RP Team tryouts to the Guangzhou Asian Games in November.

On the other hand, national pool players Liza Clutario (661), Rachelle Leon (648) and Krizziah Tabora (639) maintained their 1-2-3 places in the ladies’ Class O singles contests.

In the men’s Class O all-events, MTBA’s Francis Manalaysay was the surprise frontrunner after pooling a 1,495 tally drawn from his 686 in the singles, 383 in the doubles and 426 in the doubles.

Manalaysay was 16 pins ahead of RP pool bet Frederick Ong (1,479) while former world masters champ Biboy Rivera (1,476) was in third place.

Clutario continued to show the way in the ladies’ all-events with a 1,395 score, while Lara Posadas was second (1,302) and Liza del Rosario third (1,271). 

Sharing the day’s spotlight was TBAM-Prima-BX’s Ivan Malig, who captured the men’s rookie masters championship with a 10-game series of 1,772, or a 177 average, besting MTBA’s Earl Meredith (1,747) and ITBA-Imus’ Dhon Erot (1,714), who placed second and third, respectively.

MTBA’s Bea Santarin grabbed the ladies’ rookie masters plum with a 10-game series of 1,647, MCTBA’s Kelly Lou Brodeth (1,592) was second and MTBA’s Janet Bonifacio (1,561).