Okmalta.com retain league title – setting new national record

The MTBA (Malta Tenpin Bowling Association) has honoured all the winners of the awards won in the MAPFRE MSV Life National League during an award ceremony.

The national league is held over three divisions of 10 teams each.

Team Fina and Team Ramis had dominated the local bowling scene in the previous decade. However, this decade carries the stamp of team okmalta.com having won 5 out of the last 9 seasons, finishing in 2nd place in the remaining four seasons. The reigning champions have retained the league title. These back to back titles come as no surprise to followers of the sport since the ranks of team Okmalta.com boast four from the top eight ranked bowlers in Malta.

The champions will also remember the last season for setting a new national record score of 1,017. They became the first Maltese 4-men team to break the 1,000 barrier in the 45-year history of the bowling national league.

Throughout the season, Okmalta.com racked up an impressive 14 wins in their first 16 outings.

However, it was far from a one-horse race to the title, as team Ramis proved to be worthy challengers for most of the season, even beating okmalta.com in the first round. Ramis enjoyed the lead for most of the first round.

However a heavy defeat against Okmalta.com in the last few weeks of the season turned the tide in favour of the reigning champions who went on to seal the title.

Completing the podium places was team Fina, who had to fend off a late upsurge by ever improving Turu’s Knights in the final week direct encounter.

In the lower end of the table, team MIA bounced back to 2nd Division and were joined by youth side JDS Brutal Legendz, whose first experience in the top flight was shortlived. Experienced sides J. Grima & Co. Ltd and Bank of Valletta have replaced them via their promotion from 2nd Division.

Team okmalta.com was composed of Rankin Camilleri, Mauro Anastasi, Dennis Mercieca, Neil Sullivan and Mark Bugeja (Captain).