Saipan Tribune

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Second in a row for Yho

Yho Villavicencio picked up where she left off, ruling the Saipan Bowling Association/Budweiser February Queen of the Lanes tournament held over the weekend at the Saipan Bowling Center.

Villavicencio, who topped the January roll-offs, beating nine other female keglers to take the first two monthly crowns this season. Her four-game total of 728 pinfalls in Day 1 of the February roll-offs last Saturday was undefeated, as Day 2 top finisher Elena Soll only managed 633 pinfalls last Sunday. Soll settled for fourth place, Gloria Omechelang and Gina Sablan completed the Top 3 after earning 642 and 637 pinfalls, respectively, in Day 1.

Bowlers are allowed to compete for two days, but only the higher score is counted.

In the first day of the monthly tournament, Villavicencio started strong with her 223 pinfalls. She then logged 166, 168, and 171 for an average of 182 and was the only bowler in the field to collect at least 700 pinfalls.

Omechelang faltered on her bid for her first win this season after a so-so performance in Games 1 and 2 (149 and 145). She improved in the last two games (175 and 163) for an average of 160.50 and a five-pinfall advantage over Sablan. Sablan tallied 162, 152, 167, and 156 for a 159.25 average.

Other female keglers who joined last weekend's tournament were Carol McKenzie (621), Diane Chong (617), Lala Taitano (611), Tess Fabie (597), Ron Cal (594), and Linda Yarobwemal (558).

Manacop, Lee prevail

In the King of the Lanes, 2012 champion Simon Manacop got his first win in 2013, besting 22 other participants in the February roll-offs.

Manacop, who fell short in the season opener after losing his Day 1 lead to January winner Raymond Zapanta, bowled in Day 2 of the February event and blew out the competition with his 910 pinfalls. The Department of Public Safety official was the only male bowler to nail at least 900 pinfalls and was way ahead of runner-up Percy Omechelang, who mustered only 795 pinfalls. Paul Pangelinan rounded out the Top 3 with his 771 pinfalls.

After missing the 200-pinfall mark in Game 1 (198), Manacop was unstoppable in the last three games, recording 242, 227, and 243 for an impressive average of 227.50. Manacop's 242 was the second best score in a single game behind the 259 of Omechelang, who also carded 186, 147, and 203 for a 198.75 average. Pangelinan also had two 200-plus games (203 and 231) to go with his 197 and 158 and averaged 192.75.

Other participants in the February roll-offs were Alex Castro (767), Bernard Paraiso (762), Yong Woon Lee (759), Robert Talavera (759), Raphael Zapanta (755), Lito Teodoro (746), Arnel Ibarreta (675), Randy Abreau (671), Jae Young Kim (665), Edward Baluyan (655), Jerry Kaneshi (645), Tito Corpuz (639), Ben Aizon (631), Edgar Abalos (627), J.R. Teodoro (617), Tony Yarobwemal (603), Ramir De Leon (602), Ronald Batac (574), and Jorge Soledad (574).

Meanwhile, the Fiji Water Prince of the Lanes, newcomer Ji Hoon Lee defeated two other youth players. Lee collected 564 pinfalls to beat fellow rookie Sam Soledad (468) and Marcel McKenzie (421).