Chan tops Graded Masters class in 18th Sletba Open

Group 2 winners (from left) Louis Cantorna, 1st runnerup; Peping Chan, champion; and Tony Gamo, 3rd runnerup.

MANILA, Philippines–Peping Chan of the Sta. Lucia East Tenpin Bowling Association (Sletba) showed steely nerves to win the Graded Masters title in the 18th Sletba Open in Cainta, Rizal, on Saturday.

Chan rolled a 10-game total of 2489 for a sizzling 248 average to beat TBAM-Prima youth standout Louis Cantorna (2462) and fellow Sletba player Tony Gamo (2455).

It was a thrilling contest as the 30 finalists posted high scores to keep pace with each other, but Chan proved to have the steadiest hand in the end.

Chan had only a five-pin advantage over Marwin Santiago of Datbi (Dagupan Association of Tenpin Bowlers Inc.) going into the 10th and last game of the finals, with Cantorna and Gamo close behind.

Chan in action during the Graded Masters finals

But Chan kept them at bay with a 225 score despite one open frame as against Cantorna’s 214 and Gamo’s 232. Santiago managed to score only 192, relegating him to fourth place.

Chan started slow, placing 17th after the first game and even dropped to 19th after the second game. But he posted a 237-269-233 card in the next three games to vault into the lead midway into the finals.

The finals of the Masters and Associate Masters groups scheduled Sunday cap the week-long annual event which is sanctioned by the Philippine Bowling Congress.

It is sponsored by Sletbar, Boysen Paints, MGL Construction, JL Industrial Fabrication Inc., AsiaPhil, F&J Construction, Marikina Rubber Inc., Boss Gas Inc., Amayra Travel & Tours, Sletbabes, Pansit Boys, Dau Long Philippines, University of Perpetual Help System, Road-Mark Materials Co. Ltd. Taiwan, Manila Petroland, Trident Inc., Asphaltrade, Circle 8, Pakners, Jaime Dychauco, Mil Tan and Sletba Juniors.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer and Inquirer.net are the official media partners of this event.