Reporting from Japan.  Saw the "rabbit"squad and official practice session on day one and the qualifying on day two.  Tickets were $30 for day one and $70 for day two--ouch.  Good number of people watching.  Everyone wanted autographs and pictures with the PBA members.  Center is two levels.  40 lanes per level.  Limited seating on level one and standing room only on level two.

Rabbit squad looked like two different conditions on eash level.  Lower level puddle in the middle with the best look about 7/8 board. Left side looked best outside the 5.   Upper level looked like a track shot break point about 10/11.  Left side looked like best about 6/7 board.  Official practice lower level.  Every one was hitting them playing outside the 8.

Qualifying was 6 games on each level of the center total 12 games.  

They had all the name players upstairs for the first set.  During practice most of the pros were trying to play outside.  That line was possible, but very little room for error. Looked like they fooled a number of people with the practice session downstairs on the outside shot and then putting them upstairs on the inside shot. I don't think the  ball reps check out the lanes upstairs during the rabbit. If they did, why is everyone playing outside during practice.    Barnes and Wes tested the inside with the last balls of practice and started game one inside.  By the second game everyone was inside.  Duke/Walter Ray tried to move in, but could not get the ball to come back  enough.  Duke looked like he was trying to create area by hooking it a lot, but not enough hand/ball to get it back.  Wes was unstoppable upstairs about 1540 for six games.  Wiseman started with a 300 game downstairs going up 8 board.  Tommy Jones had over/under reaction downstairs.  Rash was 300 over burning it up 8-10 downstairs.

Spent most of the second set downstairs.  They did not reoil between 6 game blocks.  Parker moved out and made a run the second set.  My concern was that Wes would encounter over/under, but the first squad blended the lanes enough.  Wes started with 837 for the first 3.  Duke tried to play downstairs like the upper level. Got over/under reaction.  I think he should have gone straight downstairs.  Walter Ray pick up enough ground downstairs to tie with Angelo for the last match game spot.  Angelo lost out in the tiebreaker.  So he is out.  Mika was consistent thoughout.  Mika started outside the first game upstairs, but move in quickly.  Loschetter was also consistent thoughout the qualifying.  Top 8 qualifying were PBA bowlers.

Match play is roll the dice--best of 5 match games.

Will miss the match play, will see the finals on Sunday

For a local perspective, I spoke to a local who attended the Japan Cup every year since 2001.  He stated in the past, it was the top 8 for match play.  However, this has resulted in all PBA players in match play and no Japanese. So they started match play with 48.  He was also upset with the location and overall operation of the tournament.  Some of his comments were:  It was difficult for people to view the bowlers.  The costs for fans was high.  In the past, there were comps for people who paid to watch the tournament.  Also, there were limited items available for purchase.  If it is the same venue next year, they are  going to lose this fan.

Edited on 4/25/2009 3:15 AM