Leong sets sights for Bowler of the Year

With the 2008 May Masters title in the bag Sunday and the King of the Lanes on his trophy cabinet since January 2006, only the Bowler of the Year title remains elusive to veteran lefty Richard Leong.

Leong, who topped last weekend’s 26th CNMI May Masters Bowling Tournament men’s division at the Saipan Bowling Center, said he will train harder for the 2008 Bowler of the Year set for this coming July to finally complete his collection of major bowling tournaments on Saipan.

The 39-year-old native of Manila, Philippines, said he owes his May Masters victory to CNMI national bowling coach Sarah Yap.

He said Yap gave him pointers and helped him adjust his throw late last year and that resulted in improving his consistency.

While he has maintained his average at the Capital Bowling Center, his average at the much older SBC has improved by leaps and bounds.

The change to a lighter ball from the 16-pounder he was accustomed also gave Leong more energy to finish tournaments and this was apparent in last Sunday’s competition when he held off a late charge by Dannie Robles to secure the title.

Leong also dedicated his win to his wife Essel and their two daughters, Iris and Ivy. He said his family has always been supportive of his bowling hobby and for that sacrifice he will always be grateful to them.

Leong knocked down 200 or more pinfalls in 10 of 12 games last Sunday en route to winning the men’s masters at the Oleai bowling venue.

The Multi-Line Supply sales manager proved his All Events win on Saturday was no fluke by finishing with a pinfall total of 2,543, good for an average of 211.92.

Leong started out with a couple of 200-plus games (206 and 202) before rolling a pedestrian 179 in the third game. He soon found his rhythm after that, stringing together seven games where he averaged a scorching 218.5 pinfalls.

After a momentary hiccup in the 11th game, which saw him uncharacteristically score a 168, Leong capped his amazing afternoon with a high 258 in the 12th and final game.

Last Saturday, Ron Cal successfully defended her championship in the women’s division after tattooing 2,226 pinfalls, good for a 185 average. She was followed by 2007 runner-up Diane Camacho with her 2,108 pinfalls and 175.67 average.

Yho Villavicencio wound up third with a pinfall total of 2,024 and a per game average of 168.67. All Events winner Gina Sablan and Elena Soll completed the Top 5 with pinfalls of 2,016 (168 average) and 1,995 (166.25), respectively.

In the men’s team competition, the foursome of Raymond Zapanta, Raymond Angeles, Kitz Barja, and Leong nosed out favorites Robert Talavera, Jon Hensley, Paul Pangelinan, and Alex Cacdac (2,453-2,214).

Other winners of the May Masters were Leong (singles event), Zapanta and Angeles (doubles), Rita Palacios (women’s singles), Soll and Villavicencio (women’s doubles), and Cal, Sablan, Gigi Zapanta, and Gloria Omechalang (women’s team).

The three-day May Masters was organized by the Saipan Bowling Association and was sponsored in part by JET Holdings, MARPAC-Budweiser, Saipan Grand Hotel, Club V, the Marianas Visitors Authority, PTI, and Saipan Bowling Center CNMI.