22nd July, K.Kinabalu: Sabah and Sarawak shared honours at the SportExcel-NSC-Milo-MTBC Junior Circuit Sabah leg with Sabah taking the Under-16 titles while Sarawak claimed the Open titles which ended at CPS Bowl Sunday evening.

Nazrin Wagiman, who became the first bowler to score a perfect game in the junior circuit East Malaysia leg, upstaged his younger Nazriman Wagiman, 212-172 to force the top-seed into the sudden-death decider and then went on to clinch the title with a 210-202 second match.

The champion had earlier disposed off third-seed, Tan Chien Nan of Sabah and fellow Sarawakian, Bong Kihow, 203-189-158 to set up the final match with his younger brother. Despite leading from Stage 1 through to the round-robin matchplay semifinals with 4481, Nazriman settled for second.

The 17-year-old champion thus completed a dream week after the local crowd witnessed the first perfect game in the junior circuit East Malaysian leg. Nazrin also picked up a special cash award of RM1,000, kindly sponsored by MTBC.

In the Girl's Open division, national youth, Dayang Khairuniza edged fellow Sarawakian, Jacqueline Sijore, 226-223 to clinch the title. It was a breeze for the national youths with the season campaigners missing in this leg.

Second-seed, Jacqueline had earlier easily dispatched two local lass, third-seed, Eva Lee Ming and fourth-seed, Suliza Hassan, 192-148-158 before going down to the champion, Khairuniza. Sarawak thus dominated the Open division winning both the boys and girls titles.

Sabah however retained the honours on home ground as Mohd Ozzer Othman and Siti Aishatun Hussin claimed the Boy's and Girl's Under-16 titles. Mohd Ozzer, who finished as top-seed in the earlier semifinals, took the title after defeating challenger, Douglas Tan Yan Hao, 202-175 in the deciding second match.

The champion had lost the first match, 161-184 but managed to regain his composure to easily beat Douglas in the second match. Douglas settled for second despite winning the first Boy's Under-16 stepladder match against third-seed, Muhd Syafiq Sajeli of Kuching and Azreen Khasful of Sabah, 199-185-167.

Meanwhile, the newly-crowned Girl's Under-16 champion, Siti Aishatun Hussin had a convincing victory over her challenger, Syazwani Sajeli with 214-133. Siti Aishatun, who topped the earlier round-robin semifinals, completed Sabah's double in the Under-16 division.

Syazwani settled for second despite disposing off third-seed, Audrey Alexander of Sarawak and Siti Aishajan Hussin of Sabah, 182-171-149 but found the champion too hot to handle.

Sukan Teras Sarawak Ketua Unit, Encik Osman Ahmad was on hand to give away the prizes to the boys under-16 category winners, while Sukan Teras Sabah Ketua Unit, Mr. Ramjit Nairu lal gave away the girls under-16 category.

Sukan Teras Manager for development, Mr. Allan Lee gave away the prizes to the winners of the boys and girls open division as well as RM1,000 cash incentive to Nazrin Wagiman's historical perfect game.

Photos by Maradona Chok, PTBS.

21st July, K.Kinabalu: Nazrin Wagiman of Kuching set a scorching pace to blaze the lanes at CPS Bowl to shoot a perfect game in the quarterfinals of the Boy's Open division in the SportExcel-NSC-Milo-MTBC Junior Circuit Sabah Leg.

As the youths commenced their quarterfinals, 17-year-old SM St. Thomas pupil blazed the lanes in the first game to score the first perfect game of the Junior Circuit in East Malaysia. For his historical feat, the Sarawakian youngster picked up RM1,000 incentive sponsored by MTBC.

Overwhelmed by the perfect game, Nazriman suffered a setback to only manage 142 in his second game but soon regain his composure to post 200 in the third game. Nazriman ended the 6-game quarterfinals on 1163 for a 14-game total of 2672 putting him in fourth spot.

His elder brother, Nazriman, who led in the first block, maintained his lead with a total of 2938 ahead of Tan Chien Nan of Kota Kinabalu in second with 2867 followed by Bong Kihow of Kuching third on 2825.

National youth, Aris Ardilla Santosh of Miri, Muhd Amin Sapari of Labuan, Shah Nizam Doming of Miri and Sharil Afif Affendi of Labuan finished fifth to eighth to make the cut for the round-robin matchplay semifinals.

Meanwhile in the small field of just five youths, Dayang Khairuniza of Kuching totaled 2700 to lead Jacqueline Sijore, who finished second with 2636. Two Sabahans, Eva Lee Ming and Suliza Hassan made the stepladder finals in third and fourth while Mitchelle Elaine Jauw finished fifth.

"I'm very happy with the development of tenpin bowling in East Malaysia. It is great to see the high standard of bowling here, and how far these bowlers have come the past couple of years," commented Mr Allan Lee, Manager for Development, Sukan Teras.

Douglas Tan Yan Hao of Kuching held on to the lead he took in Boy's Under-16 Stage I with just 13 pins. Douglas ended the quarterfinals with 2734 ahead of Mohd Ozzer Othman of Kota Kinabalu in second with 2721. A further 21 pins came Mohd Jed Julaiman of Labuan in third with 2700.

Sarawakians dominated the first day when Audrey Alexander claim pole position in the Girl's Under-16 division after only Stage I with 1540. Local lass, Siti Aishatun Hussin finished a distant second, 73 pins adrift on 1467.

Kuching's Syazwanu Isa took third spot with 1423 with Liew Li Jane and Siti Aishajan Hussin rounding up the top 5. The girls will bowl another 6 games in the quarterfinals where the top 8 will make the cut for tomorrow's semifinals.

"It's always interesting and gratifying to see that our East Malaysian bowlers are coming of age, and all the hard work put in by everyone is bearing fruits," said Mr Maradona Chok, Vice President, MTBC and secretary of the Sabah Tenpin Bowling Association.

"We can see that the team work of Amatuer Bowling Association Sarawak has created a formidable force, and we in Sabah are also learning from our great neighbour in terms of building up our game," added Mr Chok.

Photos by Maradona Chok, PTBS.

20th July, K.Kinabalu: The 2nd East Malaysia Star of Tomorrow Sabah Leg for boys and girls under-12 years of age got underway which saw Sarawak's Muhd Syafiq Sajeli and Steffira Zeandea Greater of Sabah emerging the champions.

Some 203 boys and girls, with the support once again from their parents, took to the lanes at CPS Bowl to contest for glory over 6 games. Sarawak bowlers dominated the boys division with Muhd Syafiq Sajeli from Kuching proving himself a class above the rest to capture the Sabah Leg Boys division title.

Syafiq, the reigning Star of Tomorrow Sarawak Leg champion, completed a double with an impressive average of 199.67 knocking down 1198 pins in the process. Behind the champion was Miri's Adri Shahri Santosh who finished second, 77 pins adrift on a total of 1121.

Third place went to Ariss Alexander of Kuching with a score of 1039 while Sabah’s Ahmad Fawwaz Farhan Abdullah only managed fourth place finish with 974.

In the girls division, it was a fair distribution of medals as Sabah youngster, Steffira Zeandea Greater was crowned the champion with a score of 961, followed by Sarawak’s Najihah Deli and Kathleen Marin from Labuan in second and third. Najihah completed her series with a score of 901, and Kathleen managed 899.

It was heartbreak for Sabah’s Syarifah Nadia Ali Hassan when she ended dismally in her last 2 games posting only 897 to finish fourth.

The turnout was again great, as CPS Bowl was brought to life with the roaring and cheering from parents and teammates. The 2nd edition of the East Malaysia Star of Tomorrow tournament brought many praises from the parents involved and they also praised the Sukan Teras Programme for the great opportunity for their children to improve and participate in such good quality tournaments.

Deputy President of ABAS was on hand to give out the prizes to the girl's division winners, while PTBAS President, Encik Mohd Ayub Dahlan gave away the boy's division prizes. The Sportexcel-NSC-Milo-MTBC Junior Circuit Sabah Leg will kick off later today.

Photos by Maradona Chok, PTBS.