Qatar team celebrate their victory. PICTURE: Eddie Legaspi
By Joey Aguilar /Staff Reporter
More than 300 players from Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Saudi Arabia took part in a tournament held at the Qatar Bowling Centre (QBC).
An official of the Filipino Bowling Federation of Qatar (FBFQ) said the annual GCC bowling competition has been a breeding ground for talented players competing in different international sport events.
FBFQ Media Co-ordinator Rico Dela Rosa said Uella Marcial from Dubai was one of them who won the lady’s singles and masters category of the 16th GCC All-Filipino Bowling Tour held from August 9 to 12.
He said Uella, together with her mother Elsie Marcial, also won the ladies’ doubles category against Clarisse Corpuz and Liza Castro, also from Dubai.
“Uella who had joined the world competition (all-Filipino event) and a number of our top calibre players were products of this prestigious tournament,” he added.
The newly-crowned champion thanked the organising committee saying it was “a job well done for yet another memorable event.”
She also congratulated the bowlers and other winners. “It was nice seeing you all again,” she said on her Facebook account.
Dela Rosa believes many young and talented Filipino bowling players will soon make it to other international stints.
Philippines Ambassador to Qatar Crescente Relacion welcomed the participants during the fellowship night on August 8 at a hotel in Doha. He lauded the players and the organisers.
In his speech, he urged them to use this event as a venue to solidify the unity and friendship of all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the GCC.
FBFQ Organising Committee chairman Kennedy Alfaro also thanked the GCC delegates and his members for exerting extra effort to make the event successful.
“They worked so hard since day one and up to the finals and I believe that all have enjoyed the game and their stay here in Qatar,” he said.
Dubai Filipino Bowling Club (DFBC) emerged as the over-all champion while players from different GCC teams also won individual categories.
For the men’s singles, JM Villanueva from Bahrain bagged the gold against Ernee Noto from Riyadh.
Noto and Celis Viloria from Riyadh defeated Kennedy and Rey Alfaro of Qatar to win the championship in the men’s doubles event.
In the ladies’ trio, Raquel Hayes, Aida Manipol and Emily Prestousa from Abu Dhabi won the championship against Tina Tabon, Liza Castro and Christine Ocampo from Dubai.
For the men’s trio, Hashim Guinomla, Jay-R Yjares and Ricky Reyes from Dubai defeated Loringo Guisang, Ronald Medrano and Michael Fernandez from Qatar to bag the first place.
Vero Gines of Qatar won the men’s masters event against Noto and teammate Ramil Gomez. Dubai ruled the ladies’ team event while Qatar won the men’s team event.
