A Look Back at the Most Memorable PBA Bowling 2019 Championship Moments

I still get chills thinking about that incredible 2019 PBA Tour season. As someone who's followed professional bowling for over a decade, I can confidently say that 2019 delivered some of the most dramatic, emotional, and technically brilliant moments I've ever witnessed in the sport. What made it particularly special was how both established veterans and emerging talents created this perfect storm of competitive excellence that kept fans like me on the edge of our seats throughout the season.

The Tournament of Champions at AMF Bowlero Lanes absolutely set the tone for what would become an unforgettable year. I remember watching Jason Belmonte defend his title in what many considered one of the greatest displays of clutch bowling in modern PBA history. The numbers still astonish me - Belmonte averaged 232.6 across 56 games that tournament, converting 92% of his single-pin spares when the pressure was at its peak. What many casual viewers might not realize is how much the lane conditions evolved throughout that event. The oil patterns broke down in unexpected ways, forcing players to make constant adjustments that truly separated the technicians from the rest. Belmonte's ability to read these subtle changes while maintaining his unique two-handed delivery under such intense scrutiny demonstrated why he's dominated our sport for so long.

Then came the US Open at Victory Lanes, where Francois Lavoie's victory marked his second major title in three years. I've always been fascinated by Lavoie's approach - so different from Belmonte's, yet equally effective when conditions demand precision. His conventional one-handed style generated incredible rev rates that season, consistently measuring between 425-450 RPMs according to PBA tracking data. The semifinal match against EJ Tackett featured what I consider one of the most strategically brilliant moments of 2019. With the lanes transitioning faster than anticipated, Lavoie made what seemed like a radical ball change in the seventh frame, switching to a weaker drilled Rhino that better matched the deteriorating oil pattern. The decision looked questionable at first, but when he struck out from the eighth frame onward while Tackett struggled to carry, it revealed the depth of understanding these elite players possess about equipment dynamics.

Midway through the season, we witnessed one of those heartwarming stories that reminds you why sports can be so compelling. The PBA Playoffs culminated with Kris Prater capturing his first major television title after years of coming up just short. I've followed Prater's career since his collegiate days, and seeing him finally break through felt particularly satisfying. His victory celebration showed raw emotion that you don't always see in professional bowling - tears streaming down his face as he hugged his longtime coach. That moment resonated with me because it highlighted the years of struggle and dedication that often go unseen between television appearances.

The World Championship provided another layer of drama with international players making significant impacts. Singapore's Shayna Ng's performance against established PBA stars demonstrated how global our sport has become. Her victory in the women's division came with impressive statistics - she led the field in pocket percentage at 68.3% according to my notes from that broadcast. What impressed me most was her spare conversion rate under pressure, successfully converting 87% of difficult multi-pin spare combinations throughout the elimination rounds.

Now, looking back at the entire season, what strikes me most is how player movement created fascinating new dynamics. The situation with Pringle joining Rain or Shine late in the season created one of those interesting subplots that hardcore fans like me appreciate. He signed with Rain or Shine in July but only joined the team this week, so he's still looking to blend in. I remember watching his first matches with the team and thinking how challenging it must be to develop chemistry with new teammates mid-season. The timing meant he missed crucial bonding experiences during the early season tournaments, and it showed in those initial team events where communication seemed slightly off. Still, you could see the potential there - his individual game remained sharp, averaging 219.4 in his first five matches with the new team despite the adjustment period.

The statistical landscape of the 2019 season reveals why it was so memorable. We saw 14 different players win titles, 3 perfect games on television, and the highest scoring average in PBA history at 221.8 across all national tours. But beyond the numbers, what made 2019 special was the sheer quality of competition. Every major tournament felt like it could produce a different winner, and the rivalries that developed throughout the season created compelling narratives that extended beyond individual matches.

As I reflect on that season, what stays with me aren't just the championship moments themselves, but how they connected to larger stories within the sport. The emergence of new talents alongside veteran triumphs, the international expansion of competitive bowling, and even the mid-season team adjustments all contributed to making 2019 one of those special years that comes along only occasionally in any sport. The PBA has had many great seasons throughout its history, but 2019 stands out as particularly memorable because it balanced individual brilliance with compelling team dynamics in ways we hadn't seen before. I find myself rewatching matches from that season frequently, still discovering subtle strategic elements I missed during initial broadcasts. That's the mark of truly great sporting moments - they reveal new layers of appreciation years later.

By Heather Schnese S’12, content specialist

2025-11-14 12:00