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June 25, 2010
MANILA -National team veterans Chester King and Liza Clutario made it a double celebration for the hosts Sunday night after pocketing the men’s and ladies’ masters titles in the Philippine International Open Tenpin Bowling Championships at Paeng’s Midtown Bowl inside the Robinson’s Place in Ermita, Manila.
In an all-Filipino finale in King, Clutario bag men’s and ladies’ masters titles in PBC kegfest both divisions, King subdued comebacking Joonee Gatchalian, who bowled with only one eye, 210-198, for his second RP Open masters plum in five years while Clutario dumped national teammate Lara Posadas, 160-151, for her first masters crown after 10 consecutive tries.
The 34-year-old King pocketed the top prize of P250,000 while Gatchalian, who laid off from active competition for more than a year after losing his right eye to diabetes complications, settled for the runnerup purse of P100,000 in the event sponsored by by UPHS Dalta and Jonelta Systems, PAGCOR Sports, DOT, PSC , PCSO, Amway, Timberpro and Colgate Palmolive.
Clutario, 32, earned P100,000 for copping the ladies’ masters championship and Posadas had P40,000 in the tourney organized by the Philippine Bowling Congress and which had Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila as the official hotel.
“This victory was more satisfying than the first, considering the tough lane conditions. I believe that I truly earned this title,” said King, who earlier won the RP Open masters in 2005 at the old Pearl Center lanes in Paranaque City.
“When I managed to enter the top six, I was happy already.
But to reach the finals despite playing with one eye is really something,” said the bespectacled and delighted Gatchalian, who also won the RP Open masters title in 2004 and now coaches full-time.
“This is a big deal for me, at last I have a masters championship I can call my own,” said Clutario, who clinched a masters gold medal in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games
King and Clutario earlier earned the top seed in the stepladder finals after finishing first in their eightgame series finals in their respective divisions preceding the championship play.