Top Moments and Highlights From the PBA Bowling 2019 Championship Season

Looking back at the 2019 PBA Bowling Championship season, I still get chills thinking about how dramatically the landscape shifted. As someone who’s followed professional bowling for over a decade, I’ve seen plenty of standout moments, but this particular season felt different—more intense, more unpredictable, and packed with storylines that kept fans like me glued to the lanes. One of the most compelling narratives, in my opinion, revolved around player movement and how late-season additions shook up team dynamics. Take the case of Pringle, for instance. He signed with Rain or Shine back in July but only joined the team this week, so he’s still looking to blend in. That kind of mid-season adjustment isn’t just about skill—it’s about chemistry, and watching him try to find his footing was both nerve-wracking and fascinating.

I remember tuning into the quarterfinals, where Rain or Shine was up against the seasoned San Miguel Beermen. The energy in the arena was electric, and you could almost feel the pressure building frame by frame. Pringle, despite being relatively new to the team’s rhythm, delivered a clutch performance in the tenth frame, rolling three consecutive strikes under immense pressure. That moment wasn’t just about raw talent—it was a testament to mental fortitude. From my perspective, that’s what separates good bowlers from great ones: the ability to adapt quickly, even when the stakes are sky-high. And let’s be real, seeing a player integrate so seamlessly, even amid uncertainty, made for must-watch television. It’s moments like these that remind me why I fell in love with this sport in the first place.

But Pringle’s story was just one piece of the puzzle. The 2019 season was also defined by jaw-dropping individual achievements, like the record-breaking 300 game bowled by Jason Belmonte during the PBA World Championship. Belmonte, whom I’ve always admired for his two-handed technique, didn’t just win—he dominated, finishing with an average pinfall of 229.5 over 12 games. As an analyst, I’ve crunched numbers for years, and that kind of consistency is rare, even among elites. What stood out to me, though, was how his performance pushed others to elevate their games. You could see it in the way younger bowlers like EJ Tackett adjusted their strategies, incorporating more angular approaches to keep up. It felt like a ripple effect, where one player’s excellence forced the entire field to level up.

Then there were the unexpected twists, like the surge of underdog teams in the Commissioner’s Cup. I’ll admit, I didn’t have high hopes for the Columbian Dyip early on—their roster seemed uneven, and their season start was rocky, with a 4-7 record by mid-year. But something clicked around August, and they went on a stunning five-game winning streak, largely fueled by CJ Perez’s explosive plays. Perez, who ended the season with a 22.8 point per game average, became the heart of that Cinderella run. Watching them defy expectations was a reminder that in bowling, as in life, momentum can shift in an instant. I found myself rooting for them, not just as a neutral observer, but as a fan who loves an underdog story.

Of course, no recap of 2019 would be complete without mentioning the finals showdown between Barangay Ginebra and TNT KaTropa. The series went the full distance, with Game 7 drawing over 15,000 live spectators—one of the largest crowds I’ve seen in recent memory. Justin Brownlee’s performance in that final game was nothing short of legendary; he racked up 38 points, including a decisive strike in the ninth frame that essentially sealed the victory. From where I sat, it wasn’t just about the numbers—it was the drama, the back-and-forth, the way the entire season seemed to build toward that crescendo. I’ve rewatched those frames multiple times, and each time, I notice new details: the subtle adjustments in footwork, the strategic ball changes, the unspoken communication between teammates.

Reflecting on all this, I can’t help but feel that the 2019 season was a turning point for the PBA. It wasn’t just about who won or lost, but how the stories unfolded—the integrations, the breakthroughs, the surprises. For me, the takeaway is clear: bowling, at its best, is a blend of individual brilliance and collective synergy. And as we look ahead, I’m excited to see how these moments influence the next generation. Because if there’s one thing 2019 taught us, it’s that in this sport, anything can happen—and usually does.