CAINTA, Rizal — Miguel Flor kept his composure to top the tightly fought Mixed Classified Masters finals in the 26th Sletba-Liza Zapanta Open Championships on Friday.
Flor, at 19 a promising youth member of Sletba, had to dig deep into his inner resolve to ward off the challenges of his rivals that included his coach and mentor.
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Flor actually ranked 12 out of 39 finalists after the first game with a scratch score of 185. But he rolled a 201 in his next game, landing him in the 4th slot.
He led the group after the 3rd game with a 213, and held on to the top post till the 5th game. Ice Villarosa of STAI-Bowler X, took the lead after the 6th game, but Flor got back the top post in the 7th game and steeled his nerves to keep it up to the end of the 8-game finals.
Flor scored a total of 1,692, followed by Nick Ortega of Sletba with 1,690, George Mañozo of Sletba-Gruppo with 1,640, Villarosa with 1,630, and Annie Estrada of Sletba with 1,607.
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Ortega, Mañozo and Estrada were nowhere near the leaders during the early part of the finals, and had to endure an uphill climb to gain a podium finish.
This is Flor’s third major championship title this year, crediting it to the guidance of Mañozo, his coach and mentor.
“After my second title, I struggled with my shots and couldn’t find my rythm. Coach George helped me, specially in fixing my mental game,” Flor said.
The 26th Sletba-Liza Zapanta Open Championships is sanctioned by the Philippine Bowling Federation PBF). It is being held at the Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall Bowling Centre in Cainta, Rizal.
The tournament has seven divisions being contested by participants from various associations affiliated with PBF. It will end on Sunday with players from the national team seeing action in the Mixed Open Masters category.