Singapore girls help secure victory
25th March, K.Lumpur: Singapore national bowlers, Amanda Ng and Daphne Tan helped secure victory in the inaugural Canon Cup 2007 winning 3-2 in front of a large capacity crowd at Pyramid Mega Lanes Sunday afternoon. With five players in Team Malaysia challenging the five players from the Rest of the World, the head-to-head the opening match between Daniel Lim and Korea's Choi Bok Eum, the 18-year-old Korean got the better of Daniel to win 227-200 giving Team ROW 1 point.
Newly-crowned Malaysian International Open Ladies' Masters champion, Zandra Aziela of Malaysia took the second match by defeating Singapore's Amanda Ng, 224-195 to draw level at 1-1. ABF Tour Grand Finals champion, Alex Liew sent the large crowd at Pyramid Mega Lanes roaring when he ousted newly-crowned Malaysian International Open Men's champion, Joung Seong Joo of Korea, 258-225 to lead 2-1 aggregate after three matches.
The fourth match between Malaysian Open first runner-up, Daphne Tan of Singapore and second runner-up, Siti Safiyah Amirah, saw a closely contested game. Despite an opened frame in the second, Siti Saifyah fought on galantly with five strikes in a row from frame 5 onwards to take a slender lead.
But Tan responded by striking home from eighth frame to win 247-224 and take the fourth match which allowed Team ROW to draw level at 2-2 leaving the final match between Malaysian Open Men's Masters first runner-up, Jason Belmonte of Australia and Zulmazran Zulkifli as the decider.
Belmonte set a cracking pace with a turkey which immediately put tremendous pressure on the Malaysian and causing a split in the fourth frame. With national coach, Holloway Cheah providing encouragement and advices, the 22-year-old fought back by exchanging strikes with his opponent.
Zulmazran needed to strike from the ninth to the 12th frame to ensure finishing with a maximum of 243 and a chance of taking the final decider but left pin 10 after a solid 1-3 pocket. Belmonte just need to spare the last frame to secure the match and victory for his team which he duly oblidged to end with 231-199.
Team ROW emerged as the Canon Cup 2007 champion and bagged US$8,000 which was split five ways while Team Malaysia finished as runner-up and took home a consolation prize of US$7,000. The champion also took the Canon Cup which was presented by Mr Richard Yeow, Senior Director of the title sponsor, Canon Marketing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd. MTBC President, Dato' Dr P.S. Nathan gave away the runner-up cheque to Team Malaysia.
The best 3 men and best 2 women from the Rest of the World were selected based on their finish in the preceding Malaysian International Open Masters while Team Malaysia were made up 3 best men and 2 best women in the same finals which concluded Saturday.
Photos by Terence Yaw, MTBC.