SBC/J’s Restaurant serves up Saturday championship

SBC/J’s Restaurant turned back a serious challenge from D’JAR, beating its closest pursuer in the final week of competition to capture the championship of the 31st season of the Saturday League of the Philippine Bowling Association.

The restaurateurs received their individual championship trophies from the tenpin bowling competition last Saturday evening when the league held a short awards ceremony at the Saipan Bowling Center.

The SBC/J’s Restaurant team is made up of Alex Cacdac, Boy Corbito, Dong Eparwa, Jonathan Eparwa, Mark Halstead, Paul Pangelinan, Robert Talavera, and Noel Sicat.

Of the eight only Halstead and Pangelinan are not employed by JET Holdings Co., the mother company of the SBC and J’s Restaurant.

“We just played to our strengths and never panicked when the opposing team was closing on us. Composure and experience were the biggest factors for our success this season and I would like to thank the management of SBC and J’s Restaurant for supporting us through and through,” said Sicat.

Bowlers who carried the D’JAR banner last season were Ariel Dumapit and Raul Dumapit, Ronald Epan, Dannie Robles, Joe Velarde, Joe Sablan, Jack Cruz, Frank Sablan, Gina Sablan, and Lito Bocago.

SBC/J’s Restaurant took two of three games from D’JAR during the teams head-to-head match-up held at the SBC last Jan. 22 to cement its hold of first place.

The restaurateurs took the first two games, 953-904 and 986-904, before getting tripped by D’JAR in the third and final game, 887-884.

SBC/J’s Restaurant went on to finish the season with a 62-34 record. D’JAR settled for second place, a game behind the champions with a 61-35 win-loss slate.

Defending champion Fun & Games was also in the thick of things before slipping to third place in the final week.

The team wound up with a 60-36 record after failing to sweep its best-of-three series against Micronesian Brokers, Inc. also on Jan. 22. Fun & Games won two of three and was not able to leapfrog past D’JAR for second place.

Fun & Games was comprised of Ador Dimaano, Roman Mamauag, Simon Manacop, Jerry Tan, Ernie Villarin, Raymond Zapanta, Ross Zapanta, and Ruselle Zapanta.

MBI’s tough stance against Fun & Games paid off with a 54-42 fourth-place finish, a half game ahead fifth-place Saitech, which ended the season with a 53 1/2 –42 1/2 record.

Players for MBI were Kitz Barja, Tony David, Lynell Fulgencio, Allan Hernandez, Rusty Musca, Jess Rebusada, Jorge Soledad, and Randy Lacay.

Raymond Angeles, Ron Cal, Jun Canillo, Efren Puse, Lala Taitano, Roger Vales, Jun Villalas, Gigi Zapanta, Orlie Ebuen, and Eric Rabang suited up for Saitech.

SBC/J’s Restaurant went home with $750, D’JAR with $400, and Fun & Games with $300. MBI settled for the $200 cash prize, while Saitech got $100.

The rest of the 12 teams that participated in the Saturday League, with their final win-loss standings in parenthesis, were as follows: M&D Aironditioning (47 1/2-48 1/2); L&T’s Finest (41 1/2-54 1/2); Missing Pin (39-57); Verizon (39-57); Friends (36-60); and MC Asia (34-62).

The 31st season of the Saturday League was organized by the PBA and sponsored by MARPAC and Budweiser. The league’s officers are president Jess Rebusada, vice president Milo Orallo, secretary Rene Cabigao, treasurer Ross Zapanta, and auditor Bert Travilla.

For more information on the Saturday League, the PBA, and its other bowling leagues, visit www.vzpacifica.net/pbasaipan.com.