It was a 0.5-point increase from its lead when the second round started last week in the 31-long week second conference, which is expected to end by mid February next year.
Oscar Aquino, spouses Nitz and Rolly de Guzman, Ed Claridad, and Nelly Arciaga are still riding high on their 17-7 win over Moog at the start of second round during week 16 last week.
Budget Savers, on the other hand, will have a tougher time when it encounters former four time champion Palm Grove CCF Bowlers, which is trying to bounce off from a 3-21 beating from the resurgent Pretty Pink Panthers which saw itself down to the middle of the pack at eight from fifth.
The Savers are fresh from a 16.5-7.5 win over the newly minted former champion Liberty, which has to let go of one of its main men due to work schedule conflict.
Former Datim2bit mainstay Rod Valdez filled in for Don Gadon, who last month was assigned in Manila.
"I was assigned here for the mean time," said Gadon whose absences in the past have bereft him of making it into the high average player or even one of the top five.
Valdez, however, was nipped by Nanding Albino in his debut as the 2007 champion Liberty fell to the second ranked team.
The resurgent Panthers, on the other hand, are back on familiar ground, the third spot after the inspiring 21-3 win over Palm Grove that drew the team near the leaders with 123.25 won points, just two off the Savers.
It will be up against Chamba, the seventh ranked squad with 110.75 won points.
Fourth ranked Cross Stitch will go up against the seldomly complete Kiwanisas it hopes to improve its ranking and return to the top three after a narrow 14-10 win over defending champion Gerco last week.
Last week's biggest mover, Mixed Nuts, the new fifth ranked team is to face cellar dweller Mr. Donut. Mixed Nuts won 20.5-3.5 over Top 40 last week to see its fortune rise to fifth from ninth.
Gerco, down to sixth from fourth, will be playing blind which is expected to give the much needed boost to earn points and standings in the league.
In other games, it will be Liberty against Moog and Top 40 facing the Wild Cards.
