Everybody loses to Raymond

Raymond Zapanta beat all comers in the ABC Classified Tournament held last Nov. 14 and 21 at the Saipan Bowling Center.

The 16-year-old from Kagman High School topped Class A after turning up the heat in the second week of the Philippine Bowling Association-organized event, rolling a six-game total of 1,258 pinfalls.

Zapanta had a pedestrian start, rolling a 170 and a 169 in the first two games. He finally got into a rhythm in the third game putting Xs on the frames en route to scoring a 231. Zapanta followed that up with a 206 before pummeling the wood and maple lanes with a high 257. He ended his dazzling run with a 225 to wound up with an average of 209.67.

Older brother Ruselle finished second, a mere nine pins behind Raymond with a 1,249, while first week leader Mark “The Shark” Halstead slid to third place after knocking down 1,226 pins.

Ruselle had a roller coaster outing last Nov. 21 starting off with a 200 and a 258 before slowing down with a dismal 157 in the third game. He made that up with a 236 and a 214 in the next two games but kissed his championship hopes goodbye with a low 184 in his final game. He went on to norm 208.7 pinfalls per game.

Halstead averaged 204.33 on Nov. 14 but that didn’t hold against the Zapantas’ onslaught a week later. The Shark’s line had him rolling 171, 214 and 211 in his first three games and 236, 191, and 203 in the final three.

Raymond earned $300 for his victory, Ruselle $150, and Halstead $50.

The rest of the Top 10 in Class A, with their scores in parenthesis, are as follows: Alex Cacdac (1,151), Jon Hensley (1,151), Robert Talavera (1,151), Arnel Del Rosario (1,146), Mike Guirey (1,141), Ronald Epan (1,131), and Paul Pangelinan (1,120).

Glen Garde, meanwhile, topped Class B with a swashbuckling performance that bested all but the Top 3 bowlers in Class A. Garde rolled a 1,202 on Nov. 14 for a robust 200.3 pinfall average.

Melvin Malvar finished second in the division with 1,114 pinfalls, while third place went to Rommel Crisostomo, who was good for 982. Garde pocketed $200 for the win, while Malvar and Crisostomo went home with $100 and $35, respectively.

In Class C, Arnel Batac lorded over the field with his 971, followed by Lito Teodoro’s 944 and Jeremy Williams’ 912. Batac was $150 richer after the tournament with Teodoro winning $75 and Williams winning $25.