Firefly, Whiplash, Spare Us, No Strikes, Pin Pointers & Bowling Stones Victorious

Going to the second last week of the elimination round, the four front runners namely Al Qwassem, Kuwait Federation Bowlers, Kegler Strikers & Solo Sorisso are on target for a place in the finals after claiming separate hard earned fourteenth week victories. Despite the mixed results of the matches, the rest of the pace setters managed to keep their respective places in the Top 4 while waiting for their breaks to sneak in the Top 4 are Firefly, West End Watches Co., who are within striking distance.

The Amazing Firefly inched closer to the finals as they lit up their path to a 2363-2253 drubbing of Petrolink. Led by Nouri Amiri, Lee Mills, Nasha King & Abdurhman Swaydeh, the Fireflies defeated Petrolink in game two and three 836-756 and 791-729 while Petrolink managed to send a chill breeze across by winning game one with a 768-736. Bowling for Petrolink were Mahdi Boushery, Abdullah Khalid, Mohammed Ashour, Abdul Aziz Aslawi, Mohannad Ebrahim & Ali Qallaf.

In the hunt for a back to back title, Al Qwassem assured itself of trip to the finals by stamping their class over yet another mighty giant Kegler Strikers. Both Teams with a strong lineup composed of seasoned tenpin bowlers. The competition was equally matched. Kegler Strikers took charge of the situation early by taking the opening game 760-708. Led by Aqeel Al Farisy, Jr Sabado, Jance Nance, Rommel Genciana & Joe White Kegler Strikes who garnered a pinfall of 804-755 in game two widened their lead after dumping their rivals. Comfortably ahead, Kegler Strikers lowered their guards down in the final game of the match and this opportunity was hurriedly grabbed by Al Qwassem king pins that caught their opponents at the wire. The 886-736 victory of Al Qwassem in game three was however enough to take away the match from the Kegler Strikers and packed up their bags. In this outing the Al Qwassem also relied on Ali Boulishi, Ayad Amiri, Fadel Qwassem & Fahad Rughaib in subduing the Kegler Strikers crew.

Meanwhile, No Strikes !! rebounded from their so-so performance in the past two weeks to regain a spot in the Intermediate Group standings. With Anastasius Menezes, Joel Fernandes, Ulysses Menezes & Fatima Sequeira in their line up No Strikes !!! quickly grabbed the upper hand by subduing Amaya in game one and two with 777-697 & 770-593 pinfalls. As Amaya pin busting deteriorated which was bannered by Rey Ualat, Raine Ualat, Marj Mercado, Blanca Mercado & Reygan Percy, No Strikes !!! went on to post a 2308-2082 victory.

Pin Pointers on the other hand improved their hopes for the Intermediate Group by grounding the Alleygators in the first & second game with a 825-734 & 804-782 pinfall victory. Just one week before the moment of truth and with all the points at stake sure to count in determining if they head into the Intermediate Group. Sensing their another loss ahead Alleygators re-grouped their troops lead by Rohan Fernandes, Jason D’Souza, Samantha Fernandes & Gloyne Fernandes to win by just 5 pins in game three with a 689-684 pinfall victory. Pin Pointers spearheaded by Alfred Avila, Joe Presenta, Lito Michael, Rocky Castil & Rudy Delima went on to claim their victory with a total pinfall of 2313-2205 over Alleygators.

Meanwhile in the Greenie Group the underdogs iBowl breezed through an early victory in game one with a 743-716 pinfall win over the Bowling Stones, both teams evenly matched up. Bowling for iBowl were Kamran Shaikh, Xavier Mascarenhas, Ramona Soares & Ceona D’Souza. Out to prove to their rivals that they are worthy of a good challenge the Bowling Stones came back with a surprise win in game two and three with a 779-708 & 724-692 pinfall victory winning the game with a total pinfall tally of 2219-2143. Bowling Stones bannered by Conrad Pinto, Leandro Rodrigues, Leroy Rodrigues & Cary Pereira left the alley with all smiles on their face.

Into the penultimate weeks of the elimination round, the Kuwait Federation Bowlers sealed their championship round berth as they sent the Street Bowlers reeling in defeat with a total pinfall of 2317-2180. Kuwait Federation Bowlers headed by Salem Hajras, Abdulsalam Darwish, Khalid Dubayan & Ahmad Aloun.

Spare Us blocked much needed winning streak of the time masters of West End Watches Co. with a total pinfall tally of 2381-2285 result. Spare Us was lead to victory by the team work of Anthony King, Bala Subramanyam, Brian Fernandes & Karen Fernandes. The time masters of West End Watches Co. disintegrated under pressure but opportunity to enter the Championship Group still lay within reach.

In the only match of the week, Solo Sorisso remained in the finals berth after drawing their match with the power house of Whiplash. With a tie in points Solo Sorisso pin blasters of Mohammed Al-Rashed, Nawaf al Hassan, Yousef Al-Huraibi & Hamoud Al-Rashed managed a victory by a total pinfall of 2420-2404 over Whiplash. Whiplash evenly fought a fierce battle with both teams having an even control of the game. The crew of Whiplash was lead by Aga Acuadrazal, Rico Baluyot, Aldin Avila & Vernie Villaruel.

The team standings after fourteen weeks are as follows (read as rank, team name and total points)

Championship Group :

1. Al Qwassen - 380

2. Kuwait Federation Bowlers – 352.5

3. Kegler Strikers - 290

4. Solo Sorisso – 285


Intermediate Group :

5. Firefly - 280

6. West End Watches Co. - 265

7. Whiplash – 242.5

8. Petrolink – 240

9. Spare Us – 240

10. No Strikes !! –192.5


Greenie Group :

11. Pin Pointers - 185

12. Amaya - 180

13. Alleygators -150

14. Street Bowlers -140

15. Bowling Stones – 102

16. iBowl –100


Weekly High Team Series was taken by Solo Sorisso with a total pin fall of 2448. The Weekly Men’s High game was bowled by Yousuf Al-Huraibi of Solo Sorisso with a 279 game. The Weekly Women’s High Game was captured by Marjorie Mercado of Amaya with a score of 226.

The IBL Season 2 has been made possible with the help of their Sponsors Advanced Technology Company, New India Assurance Co. Ltd & Amman Bhel Puri Restaurant Salmiya established in 1971.

The matches of the Indian Bowling League are held every Friday at the Salmiya Cozmo Bowling Center at 1.30pm