Former premier wins Tokios Mix Triples title

 By ZACHERY PER

FORMER Western Highlands premier Lucas Roika won the 2013 Tokios Mix Triples beating national champion bowler Peter Juni 14-6 in Goroka over the weekend.

Roika with son Fitler Roika taking the lead followed by Catherine Wimp gave no chance to Juni‘s team of Mary Sireh and Herman Ararua.

The Western Highlanders walked away with K3,600 (K1,200 per player).

The runners-up received K3,000 (K1,000 per player) while Lae’s Matu Bazo, who claimed third spot forcing Freddy Neke to concede defeat with three hands to go after he could not catch up losing 15-3 score.

Bazo and his two teammates received K2,400 (K800 each) and  Neke’s team in fourth place received K1,500 (K500 per player).

Roika said it was the first time for Mount Hagen to win the Tokios title since it was introduced. 

“This is our first time to win the title. I will do my best to defend the title next year,” Roika said.

Major sponsor Coffee Connections managing director Henry Ame thanked the Goroka Bowling Club for hosting a successful tournament and the bowlers for coming from all parts of the country to participate in the annual challenge. 

Ame said it was not a first time that his company had sponsored sporting events event with rugby league and golf the two other codes that had garnered support from the coffee producer.

“Coffee Connections has sponsored a number of athletes in different codes not just bowls. We have also sponsored powerlifters to the recent Kokopo PNG Games that won gold and Prime Minister’s Wewak Open Golf Challenge in 2010,” Ame said.    

Goroka Bowling Club president Wilson Unua thanked Ame the bowlers who participated.