Ongkeko tops SM Cup bowl finals

MANILA, Philippines - Gerry Ongkeko topped the 10-game last-day qualifiers then whipped Jose Rolly Delideli, 274-221, in the finals in ruling the ninth SM Bowling Cup Pepsi Grand National Finals at the SM Mall of Asia Bowling Center in Pasay City over the weekend.

Ongkeko, 57, rolled seven straight strikes to highlight his conquest of Delideli for the crown and the special prize of 2010 Chery Tigo worth P.9 million.

Delideli, who earned a crack at the crown after winning two stepladder matches, couldn’t keep pace with his sizzling rival and settled for the runner-up pot of P100,000 in the event sponsored by SM, Pepsi, Lipton Tea and Chery Motors.

SM senior marketing manager for bowling and ice skating Ana Aguila, Pepsi marketing manager Jerome Agustin and Mark Pangandian of Chery Motors were awarded the prizes and trophies to the winners.

Ongkeko, using a 16-pound Columbia 500 ball and 16-pound Global Break 70 ball, bowled a 10-game series of 2403 for a 235 average in the qualifiers.

SM North Edsa bets copped the top three places with Wilson Hernandez finishing behind Ongkeko and Delideli for P50,000.

“Ongkeko and Delideli were former runners-up in previous SM Bowling Cup legs, so this championship series was interesting to watch,” said SM bowling division manager Boni Solis, a former national bowler.

“The SM Bowling Cup was conceived to encourage more recreational bowlers to compete in tournaments. And judging from the turnout, we are achieving that,” Solid also said.