Asian champion takes command
27th March, Manila: Doha Asian Games and Asian Championship Singles gold medalist, Ryan Lalisang of Jaya Ancol Bowling, Indonesia sizzled on the lanes pf Pearl Bowling Centre for a 1537 series to take top qualifying spot of the day in the 5th Euro-Med Storm International Masters Challenge. The 24-year-old, who failed to impress in last week's Malaysian International Open finals due to a toothache, made amends by setting the lanes on fire with lines of 192, 269 and 290 in his first series and 244, 289 and 253 in the second series for a total of 1537.
Lalisang, who also won the singles gold medal at Pearl Bowling Centre in 2005 SEA Games, fell short by just 4 pins to topple the overall leader and former Philippines coach, Purvis Granger of USA.
Topping Day 4 qualifying score allowed Lalisang an automatic entry into the masters finals. The Indonesian was joined by Kim Byeong Hak of Korea, who posted the second highest qualifying scores of the day with 1456.
Fellow-countrymen, Gu Yong Jin, who took the 2004 and 2005 Euro-Med Storm titles, will be eying his third title after superb performances by knocking down 1451 to top the overall qualifying leaderboard.
Another Korean, Moon Byeong Yeol (1435), Tim Mack of USA (1431), Fuaad Almas (1426) and Cyrus Cheong of Hong Kong (1415) rounded up the top 5 not seeded in the daily qualifying table. Hussain Al Suwaidi (1415), Shalin Zulkifli (1413), Wang Tien Fu (1409), Jason Belmonte (1404) and Carlo ansilungan (1402) filled out sixth to tenth spots.
Scores are expected to soar as hot as the weather outside Pearl Bowling Centre with Singaporeans, led by Men's World Championship two gold medalist, Remy Ong, and Thai bowlers due to arrive and see action tomorrow (28th March).
Meanwhile, in the Bevida-Storm qualifying table, Loy Ganzon, Benedict Tiong and Masa Ishizuka continued to occupy the top three spots with 1464, 1461 and 1448 respectively. Edgar Gatchalian (1435), Orlie Estrabo (1419) and Jerryson Co (1405) also maintained their positions from fourth to sixth.
Qualifying will end Friday, 30th March and the top 48 bowlers from the Euro-Med Storm qualifying table and the top 24 bowlers from the Bevida-Storm table will contest the masters finals on the 31st March and 1st April.
Detailed scores: Euro-Med Qualfiers | Bevida-Storm Qualfiers | Photo Album.
Photos courtesy of PBAP-Bolwmart.