Cabusas exits youth division with a bang
XYRRA Cabusas had a fitting exit as a youth bowler after snagging the gold medal in the Masters’ event of the 2016 National Youth Championships at the ELanes Bowling Center in San Juan, Manila last Friday.
The 21-year-old Cebuana, who will end her stint as a youth bowler when she turns 22 in May 2017, pulled off a close win over Daphne Custodio in the finals of the Masters’ event, winning with a fourpinfall lead.
The Civil Engineering student of University of San Carlos (USC) and member of the national youth team Cabusas scored 155 pinfalls, beating the 151 of Custodio in one game in the finals.
Cabusas enjoyed a twice-to-beat advantage in the finals as she was seeded No.1 after scoring 2,391 in the 12 games of the matchplay round.
“I won eight times in 12 games in the matchplay round. I was number one after 12 games so I was seeded in the stepladder,” said Cabusas, who faced the winner between the No.2 Rica Macatula and No.3 Custodio who had 2,339 and 2,259 in the matchplay.
Cabusas of Team Prima-Cebu bettered her bronze medal finish in 2015 as she snagged her first gold medal in the event in a timely manner.
“(The win was) worth it, I was struggling in the singles and doubles. It was only in the Masters that I was able to get things together,” said Cabusas, who played her last big tournament as a youth bowler.
“The match play round was really challenging, you have to face each player per game. I really gave my best so I can advance to the Finals,” added Cabusas, also a bronze medalist in the Team event after scoring 3,966 with teammates Jeika Yutero, Christy Candido and Grace Gella.
On the other hand, another Cebu’s bowler, GJ Buyco, also from Team Prima, came up with two bronze medals—one each in men’s doubles and team event.
Buyco and partner Lorenz Tugade scored 2,364 in the doubles event to walk away with a bronze medal. Enzo Hernandez and Praise Gahol of Team PBA (2,522) won the gold medal, while Team TBAM’s Ivan Malig and Merwin Tan (2,513) finished second. RSC