SABB-SAMA Unified notched its second Team of the Week title defeating former champion Saudi Hollandi Bank in four games (489-60) at the start of the second round in the Interbank Tenpin Bowlers of Riyadh (ITBR) league at the InterContinental Hotel Bowling Center here.
SABB-SAMA leapfrogged from fifth to second position in the team standings as the trio of Bernie Torres, Jun Bolocboloc and Clem Guelas burned the lanes with 800, 768 and 752. Jun Macarandan and David Smart contributed 561 and 534 while captain Teody Zulaybar had 433 in two games.
Leading SHB was team captain Greg Antonio, who fired a series of 752, followed by Gil Hembra (743), Clem Salazar (710) and Arenel Bernabe (693), while Val Baraquio and Jhn Warain rolled 323 and 296.
In another exciting match of high handicap teams Al Inma Bank Aspire and BSF-CBG battled to a draw. However, it was Al Inma Aspire which edged their opponent with 80 bonus points through the terrific performance of Jerry Barce who took home the Bowler of the Week honors with his high series of 845. He was assisted by Obet Mata, Willie Bondoc and Gelo Train with 737, 718 and 656 four-game series respectively. Ranier Torres and Abdulrahman Ahmed contributed 351 and 345.
Leading scorers at BSF-CBG was the trio of captain Ken Hechanova, Abet Minosa and Alfred Estrada who rolled four-game series of 720, 709 and 659. They were supported by Guilbert Mesias with 521 in three games while Art Bumatay and Rey Abuloc had 296 and 141.
In the match between the two heavyweights this season, it was surprising that PNB Unified blanked SABB Advance 230-0.
The quartet of James Frizzle, Tenz Raeza, Sonny Alviso and Roland Garcia carded solid rounds of 778, 728, 699 and 679 respectively. They were assisted by Mixi Lechuga who rolled 511 and Norie Frizzle with 139.
For SABB Advance, the foursome of Ahmed Al-Qarquosh, Sam Alinsod, Gerry Austria and Arnold Jesena tallied 649, 644, 591 and 590. AJ Bonifacio and Jaffer Al-Kathiri had 364 and 283.
In other results, BSF overpowered SAIB 260-160 and Al Inma Bank Tefa’al playing bye booked 260 win points.
The combined output of Noel Morales and captain Jun Bantug inspired their teammates to recover from their first game loss by winning the last three. They tallied 779 and 716 while Yusuf Fernandez, Francis Guron and Edwin Timango fired 571, 543 and 531. Danny Encinas and Jerry Villanueva had 178 and 144.
SAIB’s top-gunner was Edwin Fontiveros with 800 followed by Agie Dazo (775), Ed Robillos (713) and Boy Rogel (703). Siraj Zakaria rolled 294 while Eddison Austria and Ariel Diaz had 176 and 120.
Top scorer ast Al Inma Tefa’al was Vic Aggregado (761) followed by captain Bobby Ting (759), Romie Burgos (748), Soc Mejia (686) and Wini Sabrido (665).
Sponsors for the weekly and monthly prizes include Sky Freight Forwarders through GM Emy De Guzman and Jimmy Hugo, central region manager, and Alina Bank through Abdulmohsen Al Mulhem, assistant general manager, Retail Banking Group.
Standings (Week 11): 1. PNB Unified 2,711 points 2. SABB-SAMA Unified 2,581 3. SHB 2,413 4. Al Inma Aspire 2,401 5. SABB Advance 2,388 6. BSF 1,732 7. SAIB 1,550 8. BSF-CBG 1,370 9. Alinma Tefa’al 1,310 and 10. Unified Team 0
SABB-SAMA Unified Team of the Week at Interbank Bowling League
SABB-SAMA Unified Team of the Week at Interbank Bowling League
Nabucco Al-Maury has second crack at glory on Saudi Cup weekend
- French challenger aiming to go one better in the $1.5m Group 1 Al-Mneefah Cup
RIYADH: French raider Nabucco Al-Maury (FR) returns to Riyadh on Feb. 13 hoping to go one better than last year when finishing runner-up to RB Kingmaker (US) in the $1.5-million group one Al-Mneefah Cup, presented by the Ministry of Culture.
Trained in 2025 by Hamad Al-Jehani, the 6-year-old son of Assy (QA) joined the yard of Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte in Mont-de-Marsan last spring where he has continued to thrive.
Although he has not managed to reach the top step of the podium in the last couple of seasons, he has remained consistent. His last run in the group one The President Cup in December in Abu Dhabi, behind local champion HM Alchahine (FR), was particularly eye-catching.
“That was a really good performance,” said the French handler, who will also saddle the mare Lacaro du Croate (FR) in the 2,100-meter turf race.
“I didn’t train Nabucco Al-Maury when he came to Riyadh last year. He arrived in my yard in the spring, and we have progressively worked our way to the top.
“He has improved with each of his runs. His second place behind HM Alchahine was very good. We beat RB Kingmaker quite easily, which we hadn’t done before, so that was a great result.”
The Helal & Tahnon Alalawi-trained RB Kingmaker (US) will again feature amongst his opponents in the Al-Mneefah Cup. “I know that he is in it,” said the trainer.
“We beat him quite easily in Abu Dhabi, but he probably needed that race and we know he runs well in Riyadh.
“Maybe he will transform himself there. And I know that there is the very good mare of Alban de Mieulle, RB Mary Lylah (US), in the field, so we shall see.”
The only French-based trainer with runners in the two events for Purebred Arabians this year, he is also looking forward to saddling the 5-year-old mare Lacaro du Croate in the Al-Mneefah.
A winner of the group one Criterium des Pouliches – Wathba Stallions at La Teste in France last July, she has just made her seasonal reappearance in a conditions race at Pau where she finished second to dual Triple Crown champion Al-Ghadeer (FR).
“It was a good performance,” added the trainer. “She only saw Al-Ghadeer’s behind but that was to be expected. He did his job, she did hers. In fact, she did what we asked her to do.”
With exceptionally heavy rainfalls continuing across the southwest of France, their trainer decided last week to take both contenders to the Pau racecourse for a final blow-out.
“It’s just terrible how much rain we have had. Last weekend I was supposed to go away but then decided, no, I’m taking my horsebox and I’m going to drive to Pau to work them properly.
“Luckily, the jockeys were great and went along with my plan. They enjoyed a good gallop and are in good order.”
While Nabucco Al-Maury and Lacaro du Croate had to brave the difficult weather in France, Moshrif (FR), who is Thomas-Demeaulte’s runner in the $2 million group one Obaiya Arabian Classic, presented by Al-Hammadi Hospitals, has enjoyed the ambient temperatures in Riyadh.
“He has been in Riyadh for a while,” said the trainer. “We took him there for the prep race on Jan. 9, where he finished fifth. I hadn’t worked him a lot since he won his race in Morocco last year, so he wasn’t 100 percent fit yet, but it was still a good performance.”
The 8-year-old is a regular in Riyadh where he was the runner-up to the great Tilal Al-Khalediah in the 2024 running of the Al-Mneefah Cup, but this time he will tackle top-class opposition on dirt.
“He proved when ran in January that he can handle the dirt. He has been in Riyadh since that last run and I went out there 10 days ago to see how he was. He is in good form and I was very happy with him,” added Thomas-Demeaulte.
