LOCALS DEFEND TURF IN CETBA NBT OPEN
Some of the best in the country face off in the week-long tournament
Local bowlers look to protect their home turf in the Cebu Tenpin Bowling Association (Cetba) NBT Open Championships, which officially opened on Tuesday, Nov. 6, at the SM City Cebu Bowling Center.
More than 100 bowlers will be competing for Open Masters and Senior Masters titles in the six-day bowling tournament conducted by Cetba and the final leg of the National Bowling Tour.
Cetba president Eric Bucoy said some of the national players are expected to participate together with the visiting bowlers from Metro Manila, Davao, Zamboanga, among others.
Cetba vice president Docdoc Gothong said this is the largest edition since it’s the 10th anniversary of the sporting event.
“The tournament has definitely grown. Every year we grow in terms of numbers and members. When we started this tournament it was only around 70 to 80 participants,” said Gothong.
He said the competition is expected to be tight. He hopes though that a Cebuano player will stand out.
“It is everybody’s game, even national bowlers will be challenged on the tricky lanes. I think the familiarity of the lanes will be one of the advantages of local players,” said Gothong.
The opening ceremony was graced by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale.
“We need to develop the Cebuanos in all aspect. And sports is part of that. We want to develop our youth to be healthy. We are very supportive on events like this,” Magpale said. .
The organizers said that Senator Bam Aquino might visit on the duration of the tournament. The event, sanctioned by Philippine Bowling Congress and the National Bowling Tour, has a chas prize of P80,000 to the Open Masters champion and P40,000 to the Seniors Masters winner. The first four days will be the qualifying rounds. The Seniors Masters final will be on Saturday and the Open Masters final on Sunday. /