Ray Manibusan wins the Senior Bowler of the Month. Standing to the right is runner-up Zaldy Ponce. (courtesy photo)

PRESS RELEASE – Top seed Ray Manibusan finally got the monkey off his back by charging past 2nd seed Zaldy Ponce 204 – 169 with handicap to finally win the Senior Bowler of the Month tournament for August. Starting by averaging 218.2 Manibusan, led 17 other bowlers into the shootout rounds along with Ponce.

In shootout Round 1, 8th-seed Nestor Valencia slipped past 9th seed Mary Pangelinan and 10th seed Gomez Martinez. Meantime, 7th seed Ruben Torres got past 5th seed Cindy Reyes and 6th seed Jim Pinaula.

Valencia continued in the quarterfinals by upsetting 3rd seed Norison Catbagan 209-190 with handicap. Torres continued with a victory over Dave Fejeran 204-180 with handicap.

In the semifinals, Manibusan stopped Valencia 229-184 with handicap while Ponce similarly nipped Torres 213-182 to advance to the second spot in the finals.

Ponce opened the finals by stringing three strikes in the opening frames, but Manibusan answered back by stringing three of his own in the 6th through 8th frames. He then sealed his victory by putting another three strikes in the final frame.

The next monthly tournament will be held 11AM Sunday, September 23RD, at Central Lanes. This event is open to all bowlers aged 50 or will be 50 by December 31st of this year.