Manacop earns second Pepsi King of the Lanes win

The inaugural winner of the Pepsi King of the Lanes Tenpin Bowling Tournament struck again in last month’s Saipan Bowling Association-organized event held at the Capital Bowling Center on Aug. 29 and 30.

Simon Manacop knocked down a total of 849 pinfalls in just four games to finish with a superb average of 212.5 on Aug. 30.

The former Saipan youth bowler found his rhythm early and dropped a 203 in his very first trip to the pinewood. Manacop then turned it up a notch in his second game, firing on all cylinders to wound up with his tourney-high of 238 pinfalls.

The Department of Public Safety Officer, however, slipped a bit in his third time out, struggling to roll a weak 178. But like all good bowlers, he regrouped in his final salvo for the evening, wiping out the field by knocking down 230 pins in his fourth game.

WTBA World Youth Tenpin Bowling Championship campaigner and two-time King of the Lanes winner Ruselle Zapanta was a far second finishing 28 pins behind Manacop with a pinfall total of 821.

The 17-year-old had a roller coaster ride when he played Aug. 29 but nonetheless took pole position after the first day of the tournament. He rolled a 211 in his first game but struggled with a 183 in the next. He knocked down 234 pins in the third game but closed with a whimper after coming up with a subpar 193 to end up with a 205.25 average for the evening.

Veteran strike artist Ador Dimaano had a similar Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde tournament like Zapanta but his 769 pinfalls was still good enough to land him in third place. Dimaano put together scores of 200, 178, 202, and 189 on Aug. 29 to finish with a respectable 192.25 average.

Carlos Ballesteros salvaged fourth spot after a strong third game allowed him to wound up with 764 pinfalls on Aug. 30. Ballesteros opened up with a 189 and 158 before shocking the CBC crowd with a 238. He then rolled a pedestrian 179 in his fourth game to finish with a 191 average.

Kitz Barja could only sit and watch as his stock fell during the second day of competition. After finishing third on Aug. 29, he found himself outside the magic three after all was said and done. Barja still made it to the top 5, however, following a four-game total of 761. His series went 212, 177, 268, and 204 for an average of 190.25.

The August win was worth $150 for Manacop. But more importantly, the January winner also picked up 100 points to add to his total in the Bowling Ranking System of the SBA.

Zapanta and Dimaano also pocketed $70 and 85 points and $40 and 75 points, respectively, while Ballesteros and Barja also didn’t go home empty handed with $35 and $30 (65 and 55 points).

The rest of the top 10, with their scores in parenthesis, are as follows: Celso Agui (759, $22.50); Arnel Del Rosario (759, $22.50); John Santos (747, $10); Paul Pangelinan (737); and Mark Halstead (736).

The August Pepsi King of the Lanes Tournament attracted a total of 69 entries. The monthly bowling competition is organized by SBA and is sponsored by Pacific Trading Co. It will culminate with a season-ending championship tournament in January.