Halstead is King of the Lanes

Mark “The Shark” Halstead capped a year when he dominated the ranking system but failed to take home a monthly title by winning the season-ending Pepsi King of the Lanes Tenpin Bowling Tournament Sunday at the Saipan Bowling Center.

The 39-year-old southpaw topped the nine-game roll-off, staved off best friend and protégé Jonathan Hensley in the semifinals, then outdueled tourney surprise Noel Sicat in the finals to hoist the championship trophy and pocket the $1,000 first-place prize.

The Mount Carmel High School alumnus dominated the elimination round of the Pepsi King of the Lanes, which began Sunday morning and ended around noon.

He copped first place after rolling 1,812 pinfalls for a 201.33 average. Robert Talavera translated his home-court advantage to a No. 2 ranking after the roll-off with 1,791 and 199, while Raymond Zapanta finished third following a 1,766 and 196.22 performance.

Sicat was fourth after the roll-off with a 1,719 and 191, while Jess Rebusada and Hensley cornered the last two spots with pinfall totals and averages of 1,715 and 190.56 and 1,712 and 190.22, respectively.

In the first round of the stepladder finals, Hensley took out Zapanta, 210-190, and Sicat eliminated Rebusada in a score of 184-166.

Halstead and Talavera were back on the wooden lanes in the semifinals but only Halstead was able to advance to the championship after Sicat ambushed Talavera, 199-157.

Halstead and Hensley then set aside their friendship temporarily in their head-to-head match-up, which saw Halstead come out on top, 204-193.

In the finals, Sicat continued his strong play, as the SBA employee and part-time triathlete managed to hang tough against Halstead.

Both players littered the acetate with spares and the occasional strikes in the finals. Halstead was on the lead after six frames but Sicat came charging back with three straight strikes to put the pressure on Halstead.

Needing a strike or a spare to win, Halstead knocked down nine in his first attempt. With a pin standing between him and the coveted 2004 championship, the man they dubbed The Shark didn’t blink and delivered a spare.

“I got lucky. It was pretty hard and nerve-wracking. I was really nervous coming into the last frame but I just needed a mark to win and I did it,” said Halstead.

He also wanted to take his hat off to Sicat and good pal Hensley, who put up good fights during the semifinals and finals.

Halstead also thanked Saipan Bowling Association and Pacific Trading Co., whose general manager Charles Cepeda handed him the trophy, for organizing and sponsoring the Pepsi King of the Lanes.

“I have no secrets. Just practice all the time and pray for luck. I want to dedicate the win to my loving wife Elsie Lynn Halstead. It’s also a nice belated wedding gift for me,” Halstead added.

Bowlers that failed to advance to the stepladder playoffs, with their roll-off scores in parenthesis, are as follows: Ador Dimaano (1,698); Dannie Robles (1,696); Paul Pangelinan (1,676); Simon Manacop (1,652); John Santos (1,648); Jonathan Eparwa (1,642); Rusty Musca (1,633); Raul Dumapit (1,633); Richard Leong (1,628); Kitz Barja (1,628); Ronald Epan (1,594); Glen Garde (1,587); Michael Guirey (1,579); Ruselle Zapanta (1,570); Arnel Del Rosario (1,553); Edgar Marquez (1,528); Raymond Angeles (1,468); and Alex Cacdac (1,438).

For more information on the monthly Pepsi King of the Lanes Tournament, e-mail SBA through SBA officials Ross Zapanta at zapanta@vzpacifica.net or vice president Ador Dimaano at ador_dimaano@tanholdings.com.