STAI is Champion of 2022 Phil Bowlfest National Youth Tourney

January 8, 2023

Left to Right: Coaches Ariel Yelo, Joyce Santos, Herman Santos, Nomie Rosario, Alyana Abelada, Antonnette Garcia, Tracey Tan and PBF prexy Ed Santos.* **(Jose Tan, Jr. photos)**

The Sugar Bowl TenPin Assn Inc. (STAI) of Bacolod City emerged as the Team Champion in the 2022 Philippine Bowling Federation National Youth Championships held last December 30, 2022 at the E-Lanes Bowling Center in Ortigas, San Juan.

Alyana Abelada, Antonette Garcia, Nomie Rosario and Tracey Carlyn Tan scored a come from behind victory against the star-studded TenPin Bowling Association of Makati (TBAM), 179-177, to capture the title.

In the finals, top seed TBAM led until the 7th frame 131-111, but Negros STAI’s Rosario started the rally as she delivered a strike in the 8th frame setting up a nail biting finish as Tan anchoring with a strike, strike, spare, strike against TBAM’s spare, spare strike to pave the way for a 2 pinfall victory.

At the early goings of the 10-game bakers elimination round event, the Negros STAI team mates were struggling to get their bearing and the team was at number 5 position.

In Game 6 Garcia anchored for the team and got a boost when the team scored 230 pinfalls to move up in the standings, but in Game 7 to 9 the team faltered anew with scorelines of 178, 165 and 171 pinfalls respectively as Negros STAI team trailed the 4th placer with 51 pinfalls with a game remaining. Only top 3 teams will advance to the stepladder finals.

The 10th game, however worked well for the girl bowlers and Tan delivered a punch (3 strikes in the last frame ) to spearhead STAI with 210 pinfalls to overtake 2 teams of the Pasig Bowling Assn leapfrogging into 3rd place and advanced to the stepladder finals.

With momentum on their side, Negros STAI led from start to finish as they ousted No. 2 Sta Lucia East TenPin Bowling Assn (SLETBA) 187-171 at the start of the stepladder finals setting up a duel with TBAM composed mostly of the vaunted Philippine Team.

Antonnette Garcia and 2022 top youth national qualifier Alyana Abelada also nabbed the silver medal in the Doubles event Girls Division.

Meanwhile in the Philippine Bowling Federation Annuals Championship held last December 26, 2022, other STAI notable winners were Cassie Buyco finishing 3rd place (Bantam – girls Division), Antonnette Garcia got 3rd place (Juniors – girls Division), Syd Vista won 2nd place (Juniors – Boys Division) and Tracey Tan is the CHAMPION in the Majors – Girls Division).

Abelada hails from STI West Negros University, Garcia is from St. Joseph High School, Rosario studies at Univerity of Negros Occidental Recoletos, Vista came from the University of St. La Salle, Buyco and Tan are from St. John’s Institute.* (Joyce Santos, STAI)