INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - Youth bowler Van Gambalan narrowly missed the perfect game but still joined Merlen Pamintuan atop the winner?s podium in the Rookie Masters division on Monday in the 38th Philippine International Open Tenpin Bowling Championships at Paeng?s Midtown Bowl at Robinson?s Place Malate, Manila.

Sletba?s Gambalan, who rolled a 289 in Game 7 of his 10-game series, amassed 2,035 points while MBA?s Pamintuan rolled a 10-game series of 1,726 to top the distaff side.

In Class O singles, former national bowler Richie Poblete stayed in command after a 734 while 2006 world masters king Biboy Rivera rose a notch higher to second with a 728.

United Arab Emirates? Hussain Al Hussaidi tallied 244, 228, 235 for a 707 to seize third.

The Singapore Sports School bowlers made their presence felt in the Class A trios.

Alex Tan, Jovi Ang and Jaris Goh pooled 1,211 pinfalls to pace the men, 15 pins clear of the PTBA trio of Sherwin Go, Sheldon Co and Charles Tee.

The Singaporeans were 1-2 in the ladies? trios with Lay Teng, Tracy See and Joan Tan showing the way with 1,129, 35 pins ahead of the troika of Tan, Audrey Tan and Teng.