Saipan, Capitol Hill pushing hard in team competition

The CNMI delegation continued to make their push in the 19th Asian Intercity Bowling Championships yesterday at the Jaya Ancol Bowling Center in Jakarta, Indonesia.

As of press time, Team Saipan and Team Capitol Hill were still testing their skills against 16 other teams in the second block of the team competition.

Earlier in the day, Team Saipan managed to record the 12th best combine score as veterans Simon Manacop, Joseph Sablan, John Santos, and Mark “The Shark” Halstead totaled 2,283 pins.

Manacop, who earlier in the week placed in the top 10 of the men’s singles play, led the charge as he broke past the 200-pin mark in two of his three games, finishing with a total of 622 pins. The Department of Public Safety officer bowled a 206 in his opening game, but slowed down a bit for a 194 before closing out the first block on a high note by bruising 222 pins for an average of 207.33.

For his part, Santos was hot in the early goings, leaving his mark on 229 pins in his first game. He followed with pedestrian scores of 184 and 193 in his next two games for a total of 606 pins and an average of 202 pins per game.

Halstead knocked down 191 pins in his first game, cooled off for 146 pins in the second game, and rebounded by clearing 205 pins in his final game of the block for a total of 543 pins and an average of 181 pins per game.

Sablan got better as the day went by, nailing 144 pins in the first game and followed with 181 and 187 to close the block with 512 pins. He averaged 170.67 pins per game.

As for the young Capitol Hill squad, they were in the 15th spot after the opening block, combining for 2,236 pins.

Young star Raymond Zapanta broke the 200-mark once and led the way for Capitol Hill, downing 583 pins for a 194.33 average. He totaled 205 pins in the first game, touched up 186 pins in the second game, and closed with 192 pins in his third game.

Newcomer Raymond Angeles opened his bid with 190 pins in the first game, scored a 189 in the second game, and finished by knocking over 186 pins in his third game for a total of 565 pins and an average of 188.33 pins per game.

The younger Zapanta, Ruselle, finished with 561 pins, nailing 196 in the first game, 172 in the second game, and 193 pins in the third game.

For his part, Francisco Barja knocked over 175, 162, and 190 pins for a total of 527 pins.

Both teams still had a shot at moving up during the final block of the team competition, which was played yesterday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Manacop’s play in the first block enabled him to inch closer to the sweet 16 of the All events standings. Only the top 16 players after the singles, doubles, and team competitions will advance to play in the Masters Event, which begins today and concludes tomorrow.

Manacop remained in 22nd place out of 72 bowlers, but moved 10 pins closer to the 16th spot after the first block.

Manacop knocked down 1,271 pins in the singles, 1,103 in the doubles, and his 622 in the first block brought his total score to 2,996 pins. He averages 199.73 pins per game.

Currently holding the final qualifying slot is Daniel Yiu of Hong Kong, who bruised a total of 3,067 pins.

Holding a firm lead of the competition is Ryan Lalisang of host Jakarta with an impressive 3,319 pins.

The CNMI delegation was also accompanied by head of delegation and SBA president Jerry Tan, as well as manager and coach Ross Zapanta.

The tournament is officially sanctioned by the International Bowling Federation, the World Tenpin Bowling Association, and the Asian Bowling Federation-the worldwide governing bodies of tenpin bowling.

Updates of the tournament are available at the ABF website www.abf-online.org.