Leong has record-setting roll

If there was ever an excuse for not buying groceries, this was it.

Richard Leong couldn’t have picked a better time not to follow through on a promise he made to his wife to go out and buy groceries when he went to the bowling lanes instead.

The result: The mild-mannered Leong knocked down a record-setting 963 pins en route to winning the July Pepsi King of the Lanes Tenpin Bowling Tournament—his very first in the Saipan Bowling Association-organized event—Monday at the Capitol Bowling Center.

The 36-year-old employee of Multi-Line Supply had it going right from the get-go, as Leong rolled nine consecutive strikes to wind up with an eye-popping 262 in his very first trip to the wooden lanes.

The kegler from Cainta, Rizal in the Philippines wasn’t through and again came up big in his second game, this time putting together a string of eight strikes to knock down 243, giving him 505 pinfalls in the first two games.

Just when everybody thought the law of averages would finally catch up with him—like what happened the day before—Leong continued his hot streak and capped his nightlong brilliance with a 236 and 222 the final two games to give him a whopping average of 240.75 in the four-game series.

“This was my first time to win the Pepsi King of the Lanes so I’m very happy. It definitely was a long time coming, but the wait was well worth it,” said Leong after being handed his trophy and cash winnings.

The southpaw also started like a house on fire Sunday, breaking through with pinfalls of 218 and 215. He, however, flamed out in the final two games with pedestrian totals of 186 and 157, which gave him ample reason to make that detour from the supermarket in an effort to try and do better Monday.

Leong started playing competitive bowling in 1992, four years after arriving on Saipan. He has two kids with wife Essel, who now has an extra $150 to spend for groceries thanks to her husband.

Finishing a far second to Leong was Ronald Epan, who finished 94 pins behind the July King of the Lanes with an 869 total and 217.25 averages. Epan came away with a 257 in his first roll and followed it up with strong games of 216 and 235 before falling flat in his face with a paltry 161 in his final game. Epan pocketed $60.

Veteran Edgar Talavera, former junior bowler Simon Manacop, and SBA Bowling Ranking System current leader Jess “Kuya JR” Rebusada complete the top five with pinfall totals of 850, 827, and 826, respectively. Talavera went home with $35, Manacop $30, and Rebusada $20.

Completing the top 10 were Kitz Barja (821, $15), Jun Canillo (814), Raymond Zapanta (807), Ernie Villarin (798), and Dannie Robles (795).

The July Pepsi King of the Lanes Tournament drew a total of 48 entries. The monthly bowling competition is sponsored by Pacific Trading Co. It culminates with a season-ending championship tournament at the end of the season.