‘Beginner’ Jasper Hubilla rules Mixed Classified Masters in 9th GMTBC Open

Jasper Hubilla after receiving his prize money and trophy. Photo courtesy of Abel Ulanday

CAINTA, Rizal — Jasper Hubilla of Sletba, considered a beginner in tenpin bowling, captured the Mixed Classified division in the 9th GMTBC ICS/KwikPrint Open Championship finals held Friday at the Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall Bowling Center here.

Hubilla, 27, rolled a total pinfall score of 1714 in the 8-game finals, to edge Royce Padua (1708) and Rica Ventura (1704), both of PBA.

Ashton Lorenzo of Sletba-GMTBC had a score of 1698 to land 3rd runnerup, with Miguel Pardo of TBAM finishing 4th runnerup with 1690.

READ: Chua rules Sletba tourney

“Natutuwa ako dahil nakamit ko ang pangarap ko na manalo sa Open kahit bago pa lang akong naglalaro,” Hubilla said after receiving his cash prize and trophy.

(I’m so happy to have realized this dream to win in an open tournament even if I’m just a beginner.)

Hubilla started to play the game three years ago and joined Sletba to hone his skills. He has actually won at least two regular tournaments organized by Sletba and GMTBC.

Hubilla was already at the thick of the fight when the finals started, keeping his position just within the top five. But he was relegated to 6th place after rolling a 147 in the 7th game.

But in the final game, he scored a 228 that enabled him to get past his closest rivals.

Ventura showed amazing grit and skill when she rolled a 242 and 257 in the last two games to propel her to her third-place finish from No 11 after 7 games.

The 9th GMTBC ICS/KwikPrint Open started on March 1 and will end on March 9, with the staging of the finals for the mixed Open Masters and Women’s Masters. On Saturday, March 8, it will be holding the finals of the Mixed Rising Stars division and the Mixed Seniors Masters category.