'The Primo' at BOWLERO WEST COVINA

Jerry Primavera, Solomon Salama, Elias O'Hollaren, Cerell Cardines, Roman Miller, Gage Baker, Nathan Harnit, Daniel Hong, Madison Holman

        A truly Primo weekend of JBT action wrapped up with Cerell Cardines and Roman Miller claiming JBT titles in tremendous action at Bowlero West Covina.

        After five qualifying games, top scorers advanced to head to head matchplay.  Ronnie Castillo, who received his 300 shirt and plaque before the event, fired off another perfecto to spark him to the #1 seed, but fell to all-time great Solomon Salama, who then stopped Daniel Hong to reach the final.  On the other side of the bracket, #3 Cerell Cardines got past Brandon Howard, Skyler McGowan, and finally #2 Josh Abigania to advance and face Solomon for the title.

        The two good friends, Team USA representatives, and great bowlers have faced off many times for JBT titles, and this time it looked like Cardines' protracted streak of bad luck in finals would continue as he opened with a pocket 7-10.  He zeroed in from there though, finally defeating Salama 228-217, finally passing Dallas Leong for 20th place on the all time title list with his 18th career win.

        Roman Miller had his best JBT qualifying round by far to claim the #1 handicap division seed, and defended that placement with wins over Jerry Wang, Neel Kankariya, and Nathan Harnit to reach his first career finals.  The bottom half of the bracket was more chaotic, as #14 Gage Baker edged #2 Akayla Orosco to advance against Miller for the title.  Roman had a comfortable lead before disastrous eighth and ninth frame opens, leaving Gage needing 19 pins in the tenth to swipe away the win.  He calmly spared a 10-pin, but a short count fill ball swung things back to a stunned Roman, with the 227-225 final giving him his first career JBT title.

        'Primo' points and money were awarded to the best combined two-day performances.  Salama's 2nd and 3rd was good for the scratch top bonus, while Neel Kankariya's 7th and 6th was best in the handicap division.  Madison Holman swept the Girls Scratch weekend, this time beating Katelyn Abigania for the title.  Katelyn's bad news to an otherwise great day was compounded by the U17 title match, wherein ELias O'Hollaren blasted a 266 for the win there.

        Big thanks to West Covina for hosting us, as well as the Salama family for allowing us the privilege of honoring Solomon and Yael's grandfather Jerry, the eponymous 'Primo' who gave them their start in the game.  Because of their generosity, over $6,600 in scholarships was awarded this weekend alone, helping many on their way to even bigger things at the Invitational and TPC!  To get in on the fun, just come on down!   

Date: Sunday May 8, 2022  This is ONE tournament that is one day long. Saturday is a separate one day event.  You can bowl only Saturday, only Sunday, or both.  HOWEVER, a 'primo' feature is that if you bowl BOTH days, there is a bonus prize list and bonus point list based on your combined two-day performance.  

Start Time: Sunday qualifying squad at 10 AM, one squad only.

Re-entries?:  There's only one qualifying squad, so there are no re-entries this event..

Reservations:  Please email director@bowljbt.com to reserve a spot.  You can prepay (not required) at the 'Prepaying' section of this website.  Reservations (paid or unpaid) must check in no later than 15 minutes before start time.  At that time, all bowlers will be taken on a first come, first serve basis until the field is full.

Format: Qualifying round is 5 games.  The top 40% advance to 2 game total pinfall matchplay in the rounds of 16 and 8, single game in the rounds of 4 and 2.

Divisions/ Averages:  Scratch or handicap.  It is the bowlers' choice of division.  Also, everyone age 16 or under as of 8/1/21 is automatically entered in the U-17 side event.   Also, every female is automatically entered in the Girls Scratch side event.   If this is your first JBT event this season, we will be asking for average info.  In most cases, your highest average from any current form of organized competition of at least 15 games is what we need.  If you bowl in multiple leagues / clubs, bring everything and we'll sort it out for you.  After your first JBT event, your average is re-rated before every JBT event according to JBT rules.  Please see JBT Rule 13 for complete details.

Points:  This event counts for So Cal and All-Conference points.  In addition, if you bowl both days this weekend, there is a 'primo' bonus point list based on your combined final standings, with the same finishing position values as usual.  Points qualify you for the big money season-ending Invitationals and Touring Players Championship, so get all you can.  Visit the 'statistics' section of the website to check on your points.  As the end of the season, the top 32 in So Cal points, plus anyone who had a top-4 finish in a So Cal event this season, advance to their respective Invitationals.

Entry fee: $50 handicap; $60 scratch.  Scholarship brackets are available for $2 each.  Raffle tickets for Ebonite bowling balls, and our PowerBowl and '26' jackpots, are available on-site. 

Covid details: JBT events follow- at least- all local Covid safety protocols, which you must be prepared for.   Please stay posted so you're not surprised about anything required of you. 

Scholarships: 1:6 in each division earn scholarships, scratch and handicap.  Minimum prizes in scratch are $400, $200, $100, $60.  In handicap, $400, $250, $125, $75.  Bowlers must finish in the top 4 once this season to qualify for that conference's Invitational, which features $1,000 for first place.  Bowlers who finish in the top 20 in a conference's points race, or the top 100 in all-conference points, qualify for the Touring Players Championship, featuring $2,000 for first.

Lane conditions: conditions vary from event to event, and are not posted prior to the event (unless otherwise announced).  Some events do not post the pattern until after qualifying.  Be ready for anything- it makes you a better bowler!  Check out previous patterns and corresponding cut scores at the 'lane conditions' section of this website.

Dress code:  Anything goes EXCEPT tank tops, hats, gym shorts, clothing promoting alcohol, drugs, or firearms, or excessively ripped or short clothing, subject solely to the director's discretion.  However, bowlers wearing slacks or dress shorts/skirts, and a 'name shirt' or PBA-style 'dye-sub' shirt, or college or high school team shirt, earn an extra 10 points on their season-long points total.  If you're not sure about dress code, check with us.  If you're new to us, the vast majority of the bowlers do dress in the 'bonus' dress code, and those points become very important, so plan accordingly.

RESERVED BOWLERS:

PLEASE do not forget to contact us if you need to cancel or adjust your reservation.  This list may not be updated after the Friday of the event as we travel, etc.  However, walk-ins / late entries are still gladly accepted as space permits.  There is generally plenty of room for walk-ins / late entries, and we'll  post here clearly if an event is nearing sellout or sold out.