In a thrilling display of resilience, bowler Kim Salvador clinched his first-ever Davao Tenpin Bowlers Association (Datba) Tournament of Champions (TOC) crown on Sunday, January 4, 2026. The dramatic finale unfolded at the SM Lanang Bowling Center in Davao City, marking a significant milestone in Salvador's bowling career.
A Rocky Start and a Steady Climb
Salvador's path to victory was far from smooth. In a Messenger interview with SunStar Davao the following day, the bank employee admitted to a difficult beginning. "I had a rough start," Salvador confessed. "I couldn't even clean my 10th frame for the first four games." This early struggle left him languishing in seventh or eighth place, forcing him to mount a determined chase just to secure a spot in the coveted top four.
His strategy was simple yet effective: focus and faith. "I just prayed, stayed focused, and told myself, 'One frame at a time. Kaya pa eto (I can still do this),'" he shared. This mindset proved crucial as he steadily improved his standing over the nine-game qualifying round.
The Final Showdown and Championship Victory
Salvador's perseverance paid off handsomely. By the end of the qualifiers, he had surged to second place with 1,695 pinfalls, trailing only first-quarter champion Ulene Rule (1,820). The other top qualifiers were rookie titlist Berna Mozar (1,672) in third, Desperados July champion Tans Bernas (1,665) in fourth, and Datba president Rameses Tancontian (1,655) in fifth.
The tension escalated in the one-game shootout round, where Salvador faced Mozar and Bernas. "Kinabahan talaga ako (I was really nervous)," Salvador recalled, noting his opponents' handicap advantage. He rose to the challenge, scoring 215 pins to defeat Mozar (189) and Bernas (151), advancing to the finals against Rule.
In the championship match, Salvador maintained his composure, defeating Rule in two straight games (215-201 and 163-158) to seize the title. "I'm so happy," an elated Salvador said. "Last year, I was second runner-up. Now I finally grabbed the title. I'm thankful to my family and the Datba family for always supporting me."
Prize Winners and Tournament Qualifiers
For his champion performance, Kim Salvador received a champion trophy and a P20,000 cash prize from Datba officials during the awards ceremony. Ulene Rule, as runner-up, earned P12,000, while Berna Mozar took home P7,000 and Tans Bernas received P5,000.
The Tournament of Champions serves as Datba's grand annual finale, gathering the year's top performers. Other qualifiers for the 2025 TOC included:
- Romy Ablas (January & July champion)
- Ric Mina (February)
- Emz Salvador (March & June)
- Kath Lee (April)
- Seb Jardin (May & October)
- James Young (August & November)
- Mav Manuel (September)
- Roger Geonzon (December)
- Celso Garcia (second-quarter champion)
- Crystal Chavez (President’s Cup champion)
- Bam Tongo (Desperados June)
- June Morales (Desperados November)
The event underscored the competitive spirit and camaraderie within Davao City's vibrant bowling community, setting the stage for another exciting season ahead.
