RIYADH: Alinma Bank mentored by Abdulrahman Ahmed enjoyed a double celebration bagging Best Team of the Week d and Best Bowler of the Week awards during the 9th session in the Almarai- FBGR Saturday Bowling League at Universal Bowling Center (UBC).
Alinma Bank with team captain Ahmed at the helm brought down Carry Over 21-18 in a 2-2 match. Ahmed posted an impressive four game series of 990 points on lines of 214, 225, 245 and 226 to claim the individual award. He drew splendid support from Jess Ambon 918, Angelo Train 886, Jerry Barce 842 and Fareed Aquino 822 points.
Carry Over had Bembol Velasco shooting the team-high series of 902 with Celis Viloria on 887, Dennis Gabriel 857, Nap Torres 812 and Lulu Quejada 779 points.
In another 2-2 match Nadec Strokers of Lope Ramirez edged SABB Tenpin wizards of Allan Ofrenoe 19-17. Te duo of Reynald Medina and Jojo Paciano top-scored for the winning team with 895 and 891 respectively getting good support from Jove Marano 781 and Atoi Ramos, while on the loser’s side top scorer was Sammy San Juan 912 followed by Marvin Arocena 872, Victor Edan 855, Ruben Tan 816 and Arnold Jesena 779 points..
RG512 for Clothes mentored by Yasser Mohamed edged Alfanar Precast of Ricky Bunao 16-15. Lanky Shakur Kamlian topped the scoreboard with 844 followed by Mike Ecalnir 835, Thong Asuncion 806, Rocky Manipon 770 and Noel Marquez 756. Leading scores at Alfanar were Eddie Manzano 912, Ricky Bunao 886 and Rene Orel 853. Allan Estipular added 324 and Rey Enriquez 322.
In another match, the defending champion Eraserheads captained by Armin Isles beat Alsalam Knights of Bandar Al-Marshad 19-10. Joe Garrido led the Eraserheads with 864 points and supported by Fernie Ballano 855, Ernee Noto 842 and Andro Tismo 799 while Jojo Gabriel carded 394 and Armin Isles 361. The scorers at Alsalam were Alfred Valencia 898, Bandar Al-Marshad 773, Rollie Cleofe 760, Efren Abuyo 754 and Jess Vidal 693 points.
Other results: Proshop Strikers captained by Johnny Penecilla beat Sebo Boys of Koko Torres 17-16, Exodus captained by Benny Mondoy defeated Kapit Bisig of Fe Divinagracia 18-16 while sponsor team Almarai Co. downedt Expendibles of Hani Al-Nasleh 15-12.
Team standings after the 9th week: 1. Carry Over 170 pts. 2. Nadec Strokers 157 3. Almarai Co. 156 4. SABB Tenpin Wizards 155 5. Alinma Bank 154 6. Eraserheads 153 7. RG512 for Clothes 153 8. Expendibles 145 9. Proshop Strikers 143 10. Alsalam Knights 13311. Sebo Boys 126 12. Kapit Bisig 126 13. Exodus 115 14. Alfanar Precast 65
Alinma lands double in Almarai Saturday League
Alinma lands double in Almarai Saturday League
Rampant Sabalenka sweeps past Jovic into Australian Open semifinals
MELBOURNE: Relentless top seed Aryna Sabalenka muscled past American teenager Iva Jovic and into the Australian Open semifinals Tuesday to accelerate her bid for a third Melbourne title.
The Belarusian powered home 6-3, 6-0 in blazing heat to set up a clash with either third seed Coco Gauff or 12th seed Elina Svitolina.
It booked the 27-year-old a 14th career Grand Slam semifinal and fourth in a row at the season-opening major.
Sabalenka has won twice in Melbourne, in 2023 and 2024, and seemed destined for another crown last year but was upset in the final by Madison Keys.
Keys’ title defense is over, beaten in the fourth round by Jessica Pegula.
“These teenagers have been testing me in the last couple of rounds,” said Sabalenka, who is on a 10-match win streak after victory at the lead-up Brisbane International.
“It was a tough match. Don’t look at the score, it wasn’t easy at all. She played incredible tennis. Pushed me to to one step better level. And I’m super happy with the win.”
The match was played under an open roof on Rod Laver Arena with the tournament Heat Stress Scale yet to reach the level where it could be closed.
Temperatures are forecast to hit a blistering 45C with a peak of 38C reached during the match.
Defeat brought an end to a breakthrough tournament for 18-year-old Jovic, the youngest player in the women’s top 100 and seeded 29.
She stunned seventh seed and two-time Slam finalist Jasmine Paolini and blitzed past experienced Yulia Putintseva for the loss of just one game to announce herself to the world.
But Sabalenka was a bridge too far.
The world number one safely held serve to lay down a marker, blasting an ace to set up game point and an unreturnable serve to win it.
Jovic made some early errors and sent the ball long on break point to surrender her serve and fall 2-0 behind.
Sabalenka held to pile on the pressure before Jovic fended off a break point on her next serve to get on the scoreboard.
But despite some long rallies as she got into the match and three break points as Sabalenka served for the set, the top seed’s brute force proved too much.
Sabalenka then broke her immediately to assert control of set two and Jovic was spent, with another break for 3-0 then a double fault to slump 5-0 down, signalling the end.
