King, Clutario snare PBC men's, ladies' masters titles

MANILA, Philippines - National team veterans Chester King and Liza Clutario made it a double celebration for the hosts Sunday night after pocketing the men’s and ladies’ masters titles in the Philippine International Open Tenpin Bowling Championships at Paeng’s Midtown Bowl inside the Robinson’s Place in Ermita, Manila.

In an all-Filipino finale in both divisions, King subdued comebacking Joonee Gatchalian, who bowled with only one eye, 210-198, for his second RP Open masters plum in five years while Clutario beat national teammate Lara Posadas, 160-151, for her first masters crown after 10 consecutive tries.

The 34-year-old King pocketed the top prize of P250,000 while Gatchalian, who laid off from active competition for more than a year after losing his right eye to diabetes complications, settled for the runnerup purse of P100,000 in the event sponsored by UPHS Dalta and Jonelta Systems, PAGCOR Sports, DOT, PSC , PCSO, Amway, Timberpro and Colgate Palmolive.

On the other hand, Clutario, 32, earned P100,000 for copping the ladies’ masters championship and Posadas had P40,000 in the tourney organized by the Philippine Bowling Congress and which had Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila as the official hotel.

“This victory was more satisfying than the first, considering the tough lane conditions. I believe that I truly earned this title,” said King, who earlier won the RP Open masters in 2005 at the old Pearl Center lanes in Parañaque City.

“When I managed to enter the top six, I was happy already. But to reach the finals despite playing with one eye is really something,” said the bespectacled and delighted Gatchalian, who also won the RP Open masters title in 2004 and now coaches full-time.

“This is a big deal for me, at last I have a masters championship I can call my own,” said Clutario, who clinched a masters gold medal in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.

King and Clutario earlier earned the top seed in the stepladder finals after finishing first in their eight-game series finals in their respective divisions preceding the championship play.

Spiked by three 256 scores in the fifth to seventh games, King had a 1,725 aggregate to wind up on top of the men’s field while Clutario garnered 1,660 as both of them earned the twice-to-beat edge in topping their respective groups.

Gatchalian, who finished the phase in third overall with a 1,689 card, earned the right to face King in the finals after bowling 194 in the second shootout match, besting Malaysia’s Zaid Izlan (194) and South Korea’s Chai Ji Hyun (187).

Gatchalian had the chance to prolong his first game against the top-seeded King, who ended it with a 210, had he punched out to tie his rival’s score, but missed the chance when he spared the last frame.    

On the other hand, Posadas,who finished fourth overall (1,559), advanced to the championship match with Clutario after surviving two shootouts matches

The fourth year culinary arts student at the College of St. Benilde topped the first shootout with a 225, ousting MTBA’s Lovella Catalan (179) and Malaysia’s Putty Armein (162).

She then emerged on top of the second shoout with a 176, eliminating Indonesia’s Sin Li Jane (154) and national teammate Rachelle Leon (163), but apparently lost steam in playing the well-rested Clutario.

RP team coach Jun Trasporto, who has been training the RP pool bowlers since February, was satisfied that both of his charges swept both masters titles.

“This is a good sign for our training for the Guangzhou Asian Games in November and a validation of our program so far, because we set up the lane conditions so they would at par with international standards,” Trasporto said.