BALL CHANGE

Alex and Syafiq stay calm in tense final game to claim doubles gold

AJITPAL SINGH ajitpalsingh@nst.com.my

YOU can always count on veteran Alex Liew when it matters. Alex’s decision to change his ball after a poor first game, followed by his strikes in the final three attempts in the sixth game clinched Malaysia the men’s doubles gold medal at Sunway Mega Lanes yesterday.

The 41-year-old and Syafiq Ridhwan Abd Malek posted a combined 2,647 total, averaging 220.60 for a 17-pin victory.

It was a one-two finish for Malaysia as Adrian Ang-Rafiq Ismail took the silver medal with a 2,630 total while Indonesia’s Billy Islam-Hardy Rachmadian were placed third with 2,615 pinfalls.

Malaysia’s third pairing of Ahmad Muaz Fishol-Timmy Tan took ninth spot with a 2,465 series.

Alex was the top performer with a personal sixgame total of 1,345 pinfalls compared to Syafiq’s 1,302.

It was Alex’s seventh Sea Games gold medal since his debut in the 2001 Kuala Lumpur edition, where bowling was held in Penang.

Alex can be regarded as a specialist in the doubles event. It was his third gold in doubles after 2001 (with Ben Heng) and 2011 (with Adrian Ang) editions. He was a silver medallist with Ben Heng in the 2005 Manila edition.