12-year-old Quinata stuns the field with Crowne Plaza One Ball Victory

Sunday, August 31, 2025 – CENTRAL LANES BOWLING CENTER, Tamuning, Guam

Xavier Quinata claimed the Crowne Plaza 1 ball event title.

In a jaw-dropping twist that no one saw coming, the One Ball Classic tournament crowned its newest champion—a 12-year-old dynamo who entered the competition simply to gain experience. But by the end of a grueling, gear-restricted showdown, young Xavier Quinata was standing tall atop the podium, clutching victory in a nail-biting finale that had the crowd on the edge of their seats.

This wasn’t your average bowling tournament. Sponsored by Crowne Plaza, the One Ball Classic pushed bowlers to their limits with two unforgiving lane patterns and a strict rule: no urethane, no plastic, and only one ball allowed. The result? A low-scoring slugfest where strategy, precision, and nerves of steel ruled the lanes.

L-R: 1st place Quinata, 2nd place Jesse Ada, 3rd place Ricky Duenas.

Quinata’s 64-pin handicap gave him a fighting chance, but it was his clutch performance in the final frame that sealed the deal. With top seed Jesse Ada and 19th seed Ricky Duenas breathing down his neck, Xavier needed a spare and a solid fill to clinch the win. He delivered—cool as ice—with a final score of 214, edging Ada’s 209 and Duenas’ 205 in a heart-pounding finish.

The event was a celebration of bowling talent across generations. Senior bowlers showed up strong, with six of the seven making it to the top 12. But the youth weren’t far behind—four young guns cracked the top 24, including the eventual champ. The format leveled the playing field, proving that age and experience weren’t the only paths to glory.

Top 6 Semi-finalists (L-R): Manny Tagle, Jantzen Sison, Jesse Ada, Ricky Duenas, Shannon Bukikosa-Esplana, and Quinata.

Jesse Ada dominated the qualifying rounds, followed closely by Yvonne Acda, Michael Duenas, and Shannon Bukikosa-Esplana. Rising star Jaden Milan landed in fifth, while Quinata quietly secured his spot in the top 24 at seventh—setting the stage for his Cinderella run.

The field was cut to the top 24 and included a mix of youth and veterans: Manny Tagle, Ray Manibusan, 13-year-old Nathan Caasi and Lyo Sawada, Cisco Uncangco, Kenneth Gicos, Willy Hong, Ray San Nicolas, Mary Ann Abad, Ayden Buentipo, John Raymundo, CJ Quitugua, Naiyah Taimanglo, Noah Taimanglo, Jantzen Sison, Jay Leon Guerrero, and Jared Gutierrez.