Calamba, Rivera shine in Sletba Open finals

Charlize Calamba of Sletba (left) and Biboy Rivera are all smiles after topping their respective divisions in the finals of the 27th Sletba Open Championship

CAINTA, Rizal — Skill, experience, youth shone brightest in the second day of the 27th Sletba Open finals on Saturday at the Sta. Lucia East Mall here.

Biboy Rivera, one of the country’s top bowlers and coaches, showed top skill and mental toughness when he ruled the Senior Open Masters division with score of 1824 pinfalls in the 8-game series.

Rivera, who represented TBAM-AMBA, led from start to finish with an average of 228, not allowing any of his closest rivals that included 4-time World Cup champion Paeng Nepomuceno, to close in.

Josh Ablang of AMBA came in far second with 1772, followed by Maeng Bermundo of GMTBC with 1740, Ricky Tagulinao of Sletba with 1739, and Ric Mina of DATBA with 1717.

In the first finals event of the day, Charlize Calamba of Sletba showed class in upending her rivals to clinch the Ladies Classified Masters category.

The 17-year-old lass, who has won numerous titles in various tournaments, kept her composure as rivals began closing in, ending the 7-game finals with 1363.

Rica Ventura of PBA-Bearing Center, came from behind to finish with 1332 and grab 1st runner-up honors. Rheylene Panganiban of STAI was 2nd runner-up with 1331, followed by Josie Guevarra of PBA with 1312, and Liza Zapanta, vice president of Sletba, with 1298.

The finals of the Mixed Youth Masters division was still being played as of posting time.

The third and last day of this annual event sanctioned by the Philippine Bowling Federation will be held Sunday featuring the Senior Associate Masters group in the morning and the Open Masters field in the afternoon.

More than 300 players from various associations in Metro Manila and the provinces played, making the 27th Sletba Open a big success.