AFTER being a three-time finalist, Gab Velasco emerged champion at last in the 2018 Davao Tenpin Bowlers Association (Datba) Bowler of the Year tournament held over the weekend at SM Lanang Premier Bowling Center.
Twice-to-beat Velasco, a 23-year-old graduating nursing student at Davao Doctors College, recovered from a first game loss by beating challenger John Tamondong, 200-165, in the sudden death of their step-the-ladder finals.
Tamondong took the first game by routing Velasco, 218-178.
"First time po hehehe tagal ko na gustong manalo sa Bowler of the Year. Nakatatlong finalist napo ako tapos ngayon lang ako nanalo," he told VoxPop Davao in a Facebook interview.
He also said that he just focused on the game, adding, "Nag-pray before the game na sana ibigay to sa akin."
Velasco, who started playing tenpin at age 19, went home with P14,000 while runner-up Tamondong pocketed P9,000.
Next two placers Uree Uy and Arthur John Galendez bagged P5,000 and P2,000, respectively.
Velasco struck for a total of 1,656 pinfalls in the eight-game qualifying round to grab the top spot and the twice-to-beat advantage going to the finals.
Tamondong (1,653), Uy (1,617) and Galendez (1,613) completed the final four.
In the step-the-ladder finals, Uy outclassed Galendez, 251-220, only to fall at the hands of Tamondong, 176-202. The latter, thus, arranged a titular showdown with Velasco.
The Datba Bowler of the Year tournament pits monthly champions. The other finalists were Romy Serrano, Celso Garcia, Billy Magdale, Kert Palces, Tans Bernas, Ardel Duhaylungsod, Yeyen Flores and Art Galendez.
