Robert, Diana reclaim May Masters crowns

Veterans Robert Talavera and Diana Camacho regained the championship they lost last year after topping the 33rd CNMI May Masters Tournament held over the weekend at the Saipan Bowling Center.

Talavera, who took the 2013 title but finished only third behind champion Alex Castro and Rusty Musca, prevailed in an 18-player field this year after collecting 2,441 pinfalls in 12 games. The 2015 champion solidified his bid to get back on top after a strong finish in the men’s division contest.

The SBC employee knocked down 200-plus pins in the last four games (224, 202, 201, and 207) for a 75-pinfall winning margin against Percy Omechelang (2,366). Talavera averaged 203.42 in the 12-game roll-off and was the lone bowler to hit the 200-mark average. He added three more 200-plus pinfall scores (229 and 233 in the first two games and 230 in Game 5) and recorded 191, 196, 185, and 160 in the four other games.

Robert Talavera, left, and Diana Camacho, pose with their trophies and cash prizes during the awards ceremony for the 33rd CNMI May Masters Tournament last Sunday at the Nami Bar of Kanoa Resort. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Omechelang owned the best single game score (267 in Game 1) in the tournament, but was inconsistent in the remaining 11 games to fall short in his bid for the men’s championships, which he last won in 2012. Omechelang’s other scores were 176, 156, 205, 234, 197, 150, 182, 181, 213, and 213 for an average of 197.17.

Joining Talavera and Omechelang in the Top 3 was Ruselle Zapanta, who gained 2,333 pinfalls. He had five 200-plus Games (213, 201, 225, 213, and 209) to go with his 166, 188, 193, 168, 168, and 176 for a 194.42 12-game average.

Talavera received a trophy and $750 cash prize, while Omechelang and Zapanta pocketed $350 and $200, respectively. Raul Dumapit (2,308), Raphael Zapanta (2,243), and Edgar Abalos (2,191), who were ranked fourth to sixth, also came home with cash prizes of $100, $70, and $50.

Other players who participated in the men’s division were Musca (2,158), Ramir De Leon (2,126), Ador Dimaano (2,122), Simon Manacop (2,119), Ariel Dumapit (2,073), Lito Teodoro (2,033), Ed Baluyan (1,973), Castro (1,964), Ronald Epan (1,915), Ronald Batac (1,915), Jorge Soledad (1,912), and Bernard Paraiso (1,788).

In the women’s division, Diana Camacho earned a 44-pinfall winning margin against Kathy Mersai, 2,088-2,044, to bag her third crown in the last four staging of the annual event. Camacho won back-to-back (2012 and 2013) before missing a 3-peat last year, as she finished only fight behind first time champion Lori Terre.

Diana started strong with her 223 in Game 1 and never relinquished the lead from there on to beat 16 other keglers. She registered her second 200-plus pinfalls in Game 8 (201) to add with her 166, 170, 162, 151, 150, 191, 159, 188, 158, and 169 for an average of 174.

Only Diana and Mersai reached the 2,000-pinfall mark in 12 games, as eventual third placer and the former’s daughter Carrie finished only 1,988. Mersai and Carrie averaged 170.33 and 165.67, respectively.

Diana was awarded with $400 and a trophy. Mersai earned $250, while Carrie, Ron Cal (1,954) and Lucy Deleon Guerrero (1,914) received $120, $75, and $50.

Others who joined the women’s division contest were Elena Soll (1,907), Yho Villavicencio (1,897), Emi Williams (1,882), Georgia Satoshi (1,874), Gloria Omechelang (1,832), Tess Fabie (1.787(, Debra Aldan (1,754), Lala Taitano (1,750), Diane Chong (1,733), Sue Ellis (1,713), Janice Camacho (1,706), and Lynn Santos (1,679).