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Filipino Biboy Rivera hit the headlines in Hong Kong Thursday afternoon, grabbing pole position after the first block of eight games in the Masters division of the 30th Hong Kong Open at the SCAA Bowl. Together with fellow countryman Ernesto Gatchalian Jr. the pair lead the way over one of the tournament favorites, left-hander Remy Ong of Singapore who is currently 113 sticks off the pace.

Local star Wu Siu Hong sits fairly comfortably in fourth place, just five pins behind Ong.

Korea's Choi Bok Eum, top qualifier of the Overseas Pool, who was disqualified for arriving 15 minutes late, was devastated by the committee's decision. Evidently he got lost downtown and the taxi he hurriedly summoned took him to completely the wrong address. His consolation was that he was eligible for the Junior event, which he went out and won. Unfortunately, he will not qualify for the ABF Tour on Saturday.

LEADERS AFTER FIRST 8 OF 16 GAMES:

FINAL STANDINGS:
Just like the ladies' division, there's a Filipino at the top of the leader board. Biboy Rivera, 30, from Manila maintained his lead throughout the 16 games and has the pleasure of being the number one seed for the upcoming stepladder finals.

"I'm really surprised at the margin of my victory," Rivera stated. "I didn't expect to bowl so much better than Wu Siu Hong and Remy Ong. Although I'm top seed I won't be able to relax, so I'll be practising hard whilst the others battle it out for the final position."