YOUNG kegler Heber Alqueza emerged the highest ranked Cebuano bowler in the Bowling Association of Las Piñas (BALP)/ UPHS Halloween Open last Sunday at the Astrobowl in Alabang, Metro Manila.
The 21-year-old Alqueza of the Bowlingplex Tenpin Association (BTA) PRIMA finished second in the open masters division by finishing with 2,801 pinfalls in 12 games.
Former Philippine Team World Cup contender Benshir Layoso of Manila Tenpin Bowling Association (MTBA) finished with 2,821 pinfalls to emerge champion.
MJ San Jose of Tenpin Bowling Association of Makati (TBAM) completed the top three bowlers of the tournament by knocking down 2,779 pinfalls.
Heber’s father, Edgar “Egay” Alqueza, the president of the Philippine Senior Bowlers (PSB) Cebu Chapter made it in the top 10 of the open masters by finishing seventh with 2,738 pinfalls.
Alqueza is the reigning BTA-PRIMA “Bowler of the Year” champion who has already competed in four major tournaments this year. The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree in Marketing student from University of San Carlos (USC) has seen action in the Philippine International Open, the Bacolod Masskara Open and the BTA Classic.
In the ladies masters, BTA-PRIMA’s veteran bowler Vivian Padawan settled for fourth place with 1,682 pinfalls. The champion in the ladies open was Norel Nuevo of PBA-Nobleland with 1,779 pinfalls while Nida Lagrisola of the host team finished second with 1,722 pinfalls. Joyce Abad claimed the third spot with 1,712 pinfalls.
The rest of BTA’s bowlers that competed in the week-long tournament were Clarence Tiu and Aui Padawan.