The Philly Pinoy Filipino Winter League (FWL) at the Downingtown Palace has completed the 11 weeks of regulation play in its 2015 season. We are now in the middle of the two week hiatus leading to our pivotal April 10 Finals Night. As luck and destiny would have it, the Bowlinators find themselves on top of the world going into this year's league finals, with a two point lead over the second place Bowleros. In close contention in third and fourth place are the Lords of the Lanes and the BowlDawgs, respectively. The 5th ranked GAMR team faces last year's winners, the X-Men, who find themselves in 6th place. Newest team Bowltes Four in 7th place are up against former winners, team bALL In, ranked 8th after regulation play. The 9th place PinKillers will be playing against the ghost team at the finals.
The league is abuzz with interesting speculation going into this year's finals. Our rules are changed from previous years: instead of opposing teams playing for the highest rank between them in the finals, final rankings will be based on total wins for each team at the end of the season. As such, tides could turn and rankings can very quickly change based on the outcome of the Finals Night matchups. Only six points separate the top ranked from the fifth ranked team, and the PinKillers at bottom can easily leapfrog multiple teams, so you know there will be a scrambling for position! Who shall reign supreme? What reversals of fortune shall we see in our Games of Throwns?
Regardless of outcome, 2015 has been a banner year for my Bowlinator team. What an amazing ride it has been! We truly peaked at the right time, taking the lead from last year's champion X-Men. After my last blog mid-season, the Bowlinators suffered no losses (although we could only muster a tie with the indomitable GAMR team through TWO position rounds!). Blue and Romy, certified bowling addicts and the hardest working bowlers in the league and most improved throughout the years, find vindication after five long years in our winter league. They have truly been unbelievable competitors with killer instincts and razor sharp mental focus, unbeatable and unstoppable when hot. They are prime examples of hard work and dedication paying off at the lanes: way to go! Paul was a Bowlinator ascendant this year and has been a loyal teammate throughout this team's saga. So many nights this year, it was Paul's solid play and well timed strikes and spares that saved our hide: thank you, dear Bowlmeister Paul! And your BowlStar blogger, the lone Bowlinatrix and latecomer to the team, is proud to say she has held her own against her juggernaut teammates. Being in their company has upped my level of play: what a blessing to be a part of all this!
Come Finals Night, one win is all the Bowlinators need to claim our much coveted crown. May the bowling gods make it so.
PHILLY PINS UPDATE: Your BowlStar blogger is happy to report that I am part of not just one but two top ranking teams. The Philly Pins, with Mitchie, Giovie, Angie and me, are number one and pulling away from the pack in our Downingtown Womens Wednesday Night USBC league. Despite a few hiccups within the league, such as medical leaves, leaves of absences, multiple substitutions and some grumblings and controversies with prebowl scores and league rules, we continue to play well and win majority of matches, with our complementary strengths and styles of play. We always look formidable (and cute, of course) in our uniforms, which are matching Philippine shirts courtesy of Angie. Style points = check! Team effort = checkmate! They must admit, we are the team to beat. May our good fortune continue throughout the remaining weeks of the season.
See you on the lanes…bowl, baby, bowl!
