19th June, Manila: Filipina, Apple Posadas drove the local supporters wild as she tasted sweet success by defeating Choy Poh Lai of Malaysia in the women's final match of the ABF Tour Philippines leg to capture her first-ever international title.

It was a classical match to say the least with Choy setting the pace with a double in the first two frames, the fourth and fifth frames while Posadas could only alternate between spares and strikes through to the fourth frame. The champion then started to fire all cylinders with a turkey from frame five onwards and never looked back since.

The nail-biting finale ended with Posadas doubling up in the ninth and tenth frame which forced Choy to strike out in order to take the match. There was a sigh of relief and cheers from the crowd as Choy knocked down 9 pins in the 11th frame to finish the match on 224 to Posadas' 228.

Posadas, 19, who easily dispatched another Malaysian youngster, Siti Safiyah in the women's second semifinal match, 248-160 before setting up

the match with Choy. Malaysia again came home empty handed despite having three women in the semifinals exactly like the men did in the Thailand leg last month.

Shaker Al-Hassan of UAE captured his second tour title when he edged Australian challenger, Andrew Frawley in the men's final match, 247-237. Shaker's last success was winning the ABF Tour Indonesia leg last year.

Frawley set a cracking pace with a turkey in an attempt to shut out Shaker but the champion responded back with four strikes-in-a-row from frames four onwards to move ahead of Frawley by the eighth frame. The Aussie then struck out from frames ninth for a total of 237 which forced Shaker needing to strike out as well.

With the crowd firmly behind the champion, Shaker did exactly that to end the match with 247 in another thrilling finish to a superb high scoring finale. It must have been a lucky day for Shaker as he was handed a win in the first semifinal match after local hopeful, C J Suarez fumbled in the last few frames of the match with open frames despite starting off with a turkey.

Shaker edged Suarez, 182-173 to face Frawley in the finals while the Aussie outclassed another Filipino, Markwin Tee, 227-194 in the other semifinal match. The ABF Tour will move to the sixth leg in Jakarta, Indonesia in August 27 - 28, 2005.

The ABF Tour - Philippines was telecast LIVE on Channel NBN and will be shown on local television stations of the eight countries where the tour was being held. It is also broadcast later from parts of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, central Asia, China and Australasia with an estimated audience of around 90 million.

For further information and details please contact ABF Tour Committee Marketing and Event Management Division at Tel: (852) 2810 5191; Fax: (852) 28105192; Mr. Ritchie Lai (Mobile: (852) 93598669; email: ritchie.lai@tndgroup.com or Mr. Kelvin Pong (Mobile: (852) 9100 0958; email: Kelvin.pong@tndgroup.com or by visiting ABF Tour official website: www.abftour.com".

Photos by Ritchie Lai, TND Group.

18th June, Manila: Local tour debutant, Apple Posadas became the youngest Filipina to make the semifinals of ABF Tour Philippines leg dominated by the Malaysian women on Day 1 at Playdium Bowling Center.

Posadas, 19, who is the captain of the Philippines National Youth team, prevented an all-Malaysian semifinals when she outclassed her opponent, Lai Kin Ngoh of Malaysia, 213-182 to take up the thid semifinal spot. Posadas had earlier knocked out Chinese Taipei's Wang Ya Ting, 226-203 in Round 1 before the match with Lai.

Undoubtedly the Malaysian women stole the limelight on Day as as they charged through to the semifinals. Thai Open 2ndrunner-up, Choy Poh Lai stemmed her authority when she demolished newly-crowned Philippines Open champion and top-seed, Tsai Hsin Yi, 225-183 on Lanes 13-14. Choy went on to edge local hopeful, Jojo Canare in Round 2, 198-179 to take up the first semifinal spot.

Shalin Zulkifli knocked out World Ranking Masters 1st runner-up and team-mate, Wendy Chai is a high scoring game, 246-238 joined by Malaysian Open champion, Siti Safiyah of Malaysia. The 14-year-old was lucky to squeeze into the semifinal by beating Singapore's Jennifer Tan, 174-159.

In the men's division, Filipinos, C.J. Suarez and Markwin Tee gave the large crowd at the Playdium Bowling Center plenty to cheer about when both of them marched into the semifinals with ease. Suarez, the 2003 AMF World Cup champion defeated ABF Tour Thailand leg champion, Yannaphon Larpapharat of Thailand, 188-173 for the first semifinal spot on Lanes 13-14.

Markwin Tee put an end to Malaysia's charge when he outclassed Alex Liew, 234-182 in the other Round 2 match. Tee had earlier ousted newly-crowned Philippines Open champion, Chester King, 211-199 in his first round match.

ABF Tour Kuwait leg champion, Andrew Frawley went on a rampage when he posted another high game when he knocked out Thai's challenger, Surasak Manuwong in yet another high game thriller. The Aussie got the

better of Surasak, claiming the match and a semifinal spot, 254-242. Frawley recorded the hgihest game so far after he defeated another Thai, Kritchawat Jampako, 259-223 in Round 1.

UAE's Shaker Al-Hassan took the last semifinal spot he easily ousted Singapore's Remy Ong, 226-163 in Round 1 and four-time AMF World Cup champion and Hall of Famer, Paeng Nepomuceno of the Philippines, 216-195 in the earlier round.

Markwin Tee will face Andrew Frawley in the first semifinal match while the two southpaws, Shaker Al-Hassan will meet local favourite, C J Suarez in the other match. In the women's division, Choy Poh Lai has a tall task to try and beat her stronger opponent and team-mate, Shalin Zulkifli while two youngster, Siti Safiyah and Apple Posadas will battle it out in the other women's semifinal match.

The ABF Tour comprise eight Legs and a Grand Final, the Tournament of Champions. Each Leg will be staged over one or two competition days where the top 16 men and 16 women bowlers from the preceding International Open Masters Event (Open Grade) will compete in a one-game match play knock-out competition for the individual men's and women's titles.

The ABF Tour will comprise eight Legs and a Grand Final, the Tournament of Champions. Each Leg will be staged over one or two competition days where the top 16 men and 16 women bowlers from the preceding International Open Masters Event (Open Grade) will compete in a one-game match play knock-out competition for the individual men's and women's titles.

The ABF Tour - Philippines will be shown on local television stations of the eight countries where the tour is being held. It is also broadcast later from parts of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, central Asia, China and Australasia with an estimated audience of around 90 million.

For further information and details please contact ABF Tour Committee Marketing and Event Management Division at Tel: (852) 2810 5191; Fax: (852) 28105192; Mr. Ritchie Lai (Mobile: (852) 93598669; email: ritchie.lai@tndgroup.com or Mr. Kelvin Pong (Mobile: (852) 9100 0958; email: Kelvin.pong@tndgroup.com or by visiting ABF Tour official website: www.abftour.com.

Photos by Ritchie Lai, TND Group.