Ballantine’s made history after securing their fifth championship trophy despite dropping their last match against Team Express 8-2 in the 47th DFBC-All Filipino Bowling League-Lacoste Cup at the Dubai International Bowling Centre.
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Ballantine’s entered the final round with only one point lead, 127-126, over eventual second-placer Crazy X. They finished the tournament with 129 points similar to Crazy X but they lifted the silverware due to superior pin falls. Ballantine’s had a total of 54,119 pin falls, 481 pins more than Crazy X’s total of 53,638.
Ballantine’s are now tied with Lacoste-Dante’s Peak with the most number of championship trophies. They lifted their first Cup back in 2004 under the name Chivas but it was followed by an eight-year drought before they tasted another championship in DFBC’s 42nd season in 2012 and won two more in the next two years.
“This season was very tough, the champion team was not known until the last ball had been thrown,” Ballantine’s team captain Mario Magdaluyo told Sport360. “Lady luck smiled on us because Crazy X also lost in their final game against Lacoste-Dante’s Peak allowing us to escape with the crown.”
Top 10 teams
|
1 |
Ballantine’s |
129 pts. |
|
2 |
Crazy X |
129 pts. |
|
3 |
Lacoste-Dante’s Peak |
124 pts. |
|
4 |
Team Express |
113 pts. |
|
5 |
SMDC the good guys |
111 pts. |
|
6 |
Sherlock |
110 pts. |
|
7 |
Titans |
98 pts. |
|
8 |
Covenant |
97 pts. |
|
9 |
Louie’s Team |
94 pts. |
|
10 |
No Bandage |
93 pts. |
Lacoste-Dante’s Peak trounced Crazy X 11-3 and garnered a total of 124 points, enough to finish the tournament in third place while Team Express and SMDC the good guys finished in fourth and fifth places with 113 and 11 points respectively.
Magdaluyo is expecting tougher challenge from Crazy X and Lacoste-Dante’s Peak in the next conference which is set to open on 31st July.
“I will keep the team intact for next season,” said Magdaluyo. “Crazy X just signed ace bowler Jordan Evan, who used to play for Dante’s Peak, to reinforce the team while Dante’s Peak will try to recruit another top bowler to strengthen their line-up.
“We will give them our best shot but in the meantime, we will first enjoy the moment of our fifth championship trophy,” he added.
Individual awards
Most Improved Bowler (Male)- Ramil Aquino
Most Improved Bowler (Female)- Merle Pilapil Cada
Men's Masters Champion – Ramil Tesoro (Team Express)
Ladies' Masters Champion – Clarisse Corpuz (Lacoste-Dante’s Peak