Singapore sets course for third gold
11th June, Singapore: Singapore’s first trio of Cherie Tan, Bernice Lim and Syahna Ng set course to bag their third gold at the 28th SEA Games Bowling Championship after topping the first block of the Women’s Trios event.
The Singapore trio set a cracking pace with a splendid 686 in their opening game to lead the second Malaysian trio of Natasha Roslan, Siti Safiyah Amirah and Syaidatul Afifah by 11 pins.
Cherie, Bernice and Shayna continued their relentless pace to reel in another superb 656 to stretch their lead to 43 pins as their compatriots and second trio of Daphne Tan, New Hui Fen and Jazreel Tan moved up to second spot.
The leader cruised to a comfortable lead of 88 pins to end the first block with 2019 total. Cherie downed a three-games series of 694, Bernice 683 and Shayna 642.
Philippines’ second trio of Alexis Sy, Maria Arles and Lara Posadas surprised the field to snatch second spot with 1931 while the second Malaysian trio took third spot with 1918.
Daphne, Hui Fen and Jazreel slipped down to fourth with 1873, but only 45 pins off third-placed Filipinas.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s first trio of Muhd Rafiq Ismail, Ahmad Muaz and Timmy Tan also put themselves in the running for a third gold medal when they topped the Men’s first block with 1895.
Doubles silver medalist, Ryan Lalisang and Billy Muhd Islam of Indonesia teamed up with Hardy Rachmadian to clinch second spot with 1867, 28 pins behind Malaysia.
Singles bronze medalist, Javier Tan teamed up with Doubles gold medalist and the Saw brothers, Howard and Keith to finish a creditable third with 1866, just one single pin off the Indonesians.
Malaysia’s second trio of Adrian Ang, Alex Liew and Johnathan Chan, who was second at the start, dropped to fourth with 1863 while the first Singapore trio of Muhd Jaris Goh, Justin Lim and Joel Tan rounded out the top five with 1817.
Jazreel took over the lead of the Women’s All Events standings with 3239 after 15 games contested. Overnight leader, Esther Cheah of Malaysia slipped down to second with 3227 and Daphne Tan of Singapore third with 3202.
Ryan Lalisang continued to lead the Men’s division with 3279 followed by Keith Saw remaining in second with 3263 and Muhd Rafiq third with 3246.
The women and men will resume with their second block of three games over the long oil pattern and the top three finishing trios will be awarded the medals with the ceremonies taking place immediately after the completion of the second block.
Photos by Terence Yaw in Singapore.