Champions all (from Left): Nelia Santos, Art Barrientos, Miguel Ocampo
Art Barrientos, one of the young rising stars of tenpin bowling in the country, ruled the Masters division Sunday in the 4th Grand Mall Tenpin Bowling Club (GMTBC)-Yee Lu Fa Invitational Open Championships at Sta. Lucia Bowling Center in Cainta.
The 14-year-old Barrientos of TBAM-Prima put up a torrid scoring pace in the second game of the stepladder finals to beat Patrick Nuqui of PBA-Nobleland, 262-193. It was his second title in the tournament after ruling the Mixed Youth division the day before.
Barrientos enjoyed a twice-to-beat edge after topping the elimination round of the finals. He was beaten by Nuqui in the first game, 188-184, but bounced back in the second game by striking an eight-bagger against Nuqui’s lone strike and spares.
Barrientos got an open frame in his last throw, but that hardly mattered as he was already beyond reach. —ABEL ULANDAY
OTHER WINNERS: TBAM-Prima’s Paulene Sta. Ana, Mixed 14-Under; Pasig Bowling Association’s Nelia Santos, Mixed Sr; TBAM-Prima’s Miguel Ocampo, Mixed Classified