Monthly winners get their trophies

They may not have gone all the way and won the season-ending roll-off of the Pepsi King of the Lanes Tenpin Bowling Tournament, but just the same the monthly winners of the competition were feted Sunday at the Saipan Bowling Center in San Jose.

Leading the cast of monthly champions were Emi Williams, Ruselle Zapanta, Simon Manacop, John Santos, Diane Camacho, and Becky Reyes, who all won multiple titles in 2004.

Williams proved to be the most prodigious among the pin-busters, as she won three Pepsi King of the Lanes women’s division crowns.

She first struck in February when she rolled 683 and then proved that victory was no fluke by again taking home the title in March after knocking down 718. Williams returned to the winners’ circle on October when she dropped 695 pins.

Zapanta, Manacop, and Santos won twice last year with the former topping the men’s competition in February (823) and April (812).

Manacop, for his part, took command of the inaugural roll-off by winning the January title with the strength of his 795. He repeated as monthly champ with an 849 in August.

Santos was on top of the mountain in June and the season-ending December tilt. He rolled an 835 in June and then ended the year with a bang with an 887.

Camacho matched Zapanta, Manacop, and Santos’ feat in the women’s side by winning the inaugural January roll-off with her 747 and then got everyone’s attention with a women’s season-high 760 in November.

Ditto with Reyes, who duplicated Camacho’s run in the women’s side with victories in April (747) and October (695).

Zapanta’s younger brother Raymond reigned in February with an 823. Two months later it was the turn of Alex Castro who powered his way with an 884.

Robert Talavera then took advantage of his familiarity with the Saipan Bowling Center, where he works, when he knocked down 841 pins en route to the July championship.

Rusty Musca accomplished the opposite of what Talavera did by winning away from the friendly confines of the Capitol Bowling Center by beating everyone with an 838 at the SBC in September.

Veteran Ador Dimaano then ruled the roost in October with an 860. Mike Guirey was tops the next month when he bowled a season-high 889 to take the November plum.

For the women, after Camacho and Williams’ swashbuckling starts for the year, Carol McKenzie succeeded in March with a 717.

Cindy Iginoef and Michelle Bondoc, with scores of 734 and 689 in July and August, respectively, followed her. Cal Ron then made sure she ended the year in good shape by triumphing in December with a 727.

All 15 monthly winners were presented their trophies last Sunday in a short awarding ceremony following the season-ending Pepsi King of the Lanes, which was won by Mark “The Shark” Halstead.

The Pepsi King of the Lanes Tenpin Bowling Tournament is sponsored by Pacific Trading Co. and organized by the Saipan Bowling Association.

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.