Melvin Lising and Christine Esperancilla outlasted the endgame blitzes against their nearest rivals to eventually clinch titles in their respective divisions in the Filipino Expatriate Damayan Bowling Group February Bowlfest (FEDBG) here. Placing fourth in the qualifying round with 3,396 behind Zaldy Bacero (3,842), Marcelo Manalo (3,445) and Ed Sardi?a (3,415), Lising had also survived semifinals at 773 on OA. Topping elimination was Bonnie Garcia with 825, followed by Manalo (811), Roger Daquioag (783) and salvaging last berth was Joel Nidoy with 761. Failing the race were Sardina, Jett Santos, Bacero, Randy Mata and Bobby Baraquel. Against other division winners wherein Ruel Santoc, Ronnie de Castro and Ross Isabiniano topped their respective calsses, Lising started with 212 to be on third behind Jun Estefano (248) and Daquioag (232) but in front of Garcia (211), de Castro (2017), Nards Hassan (201) and Paolo Allego (194). Undaunted by the fortress founded by Estefano, Lising sizzled with 220 to seize the front seat with 432 as the early leader receded to second with 427. Manalo who initially placed 9th, dazzled with 408 to sit behind Daquioag who maintained third with 412. De Castro kept the border with 407 while Garcia, Edris Mangoda, Marlon Heredia, Danny Manriza and Jimmy Mandingiado tried to be within the striking distance. With the lanes turning hostile after six games every aspirant gambled on survival stint. Lising lived on his sparing, but watching the chaining Nidoy albeit far down on two anemic start. Lising then traded marks to keep his gap with 184 against Daquioag. Lising stayed afloat with his 3-game handicapped series of 617 that eventually handed him his first championship making Daquioag his bridesmaid at 3-game scratch series of 604 including 192 endgame. Estefano, Manalo and de Castro survived winning column with respective series of 600, 592 and 589. In the ladies division, Esperancilla with 3,165 qualified third behind Ester Santoc (3,226) and Grace Funtilon (3,188). Edged by a pin at 756-755 by Aileen Miralbuna for semifinals top prize, Esperancilla together with Santoc (753), Lourdes Punzalan (748) and Eloisa Fernandez (733) entered the finals with great sense of title aspiration. Santoc was at the helm with 227 on the first salvo. Esperancilla paced closest with 215 followed by Fernandez (195), Miralbuna (188) and Punzalan (176). But a 186 for a 401 sum installed Esperancilla on top as Santoc finished with 136 to finish third (363) behind Fernandez (399). Alarmed by the recovery of Santoc, who is notably stringing strikes, Esperancilla entrenched her lead by precise sparing. Esperancilla repulsed the 213 of Santoc with 203 totaling 604 to be the February 2012 Bowlfest champion, her second major title in her young bowling career. With her significant upturn Santoc salvaged second place with 576, while Fernandez (550), Miralbuna (524) and Punzalan (493) ranked third to fifth respectively. Other lady bowlers that qualified, but failed the winning column were Funtilon, Aisah Silabay, Minda Guevara, Sally Sa?osa, Farida de Guzman, Mariz Resano and Malou Nidoy, the 246 hi-game achiever.
