MANILA, Philippines—National team mainstay Lara Posadas held off a rally by two of the country’s top bowlers and bagged the Masters crown in the 15th Sta. Lucia East Tenpin Bowling Association (Sletba) Open last Sunday.
Posadas, representing PBAP and Bowlmart in the annual event, scored 3,076 pinfalls in the 14-game series to beat another national team member and MTBA stalwart Raoul Miranda (3,017) and bowling legend Paeng Nepomuceno of PBC-Sletba (3,013).
Lara’s victory replicated the feats of brother Jeremy and sister Apple, who also figured in the finals. Jeremy won the Sletba Open title last year while Apple won it three times.
Posadas led the field most of the way, but Nepomuceno and Miranda slowly cut her lead with strings of high games. By the end of the 13th game, Lara led Nepomuceno by only 27 pins and Miranda by 40.
But she kept her cool in the last game, posting a 234 to pull away from Miranda who had 223 and Nepomuceno who settled for a 206.
Nepomuceno could have salvaged second place but split the first of his two bonus shots in the last frame.
Final results:
Graded Masters—Krizziah Tabora (TBAM-Prima) champion; Justin Ko (Sletba), 1st runner-up; and Mar Serac (TBAM-Prima), 2nd runner-up.
Associate Masters—Jun de Guzman (Sletba), Dino Lagman (QCBA-Linton), and Van Gambalan (Sletba)
Ladies—Lynn Tan (PBA), Jojie Cabacungan (PTBA) and Maricar Arce (PTBA).
Seniors—Nelia Santos (PBA), Peping Chan (Sletba), and Girlie Solis (TBAM-Prima),