Fifth in a row for Raphael, Simon and Gloria also win

Another Fiji Water Prince of the Lanes. Another victory for bowling wunderkind Raphael Zapanta.

The Saipan Southern High School student followed up wins in the January, February, March, and April editions of the monthly roll-off by winning anew in the May Fiji Water Prince of the Lanes Tenpin Bowling Tournament last Sunday at the Capital Bowling Center.

The 15-year-old finished with a four-game total of 756 after rolls of 182, 194, 192, and 188, good for an average of 189, and a sweep so far of the 2009 youth tournaments.

Zapanta won $15 and a case of Juicy Juice from Micronesian Brokers, Inc.

One-hundred-sixty-one pins off Zapanta’s pace was Marion McKenzie. The May runner-up strung together scores of 173, 137, 117, and 168 to finish with 595 pinfalls, or a 148.75 average.

Nikko Gutierrez and Troy Verdaguer also took part in the tournament, closing in with a 547 (136.75) and 539 (134.75), respectively.

In the Budweiser King and Queen of the Lanes, veteran keglers Simon Manacop and Gloria Omechalang won their first monthly titles of the year.

Manacop starred in the men’s roll-off after putting together a four-game series of 916, which was good for a 229 per game average, in the competition’s first day last Sunday.

The Department of Public Safety officer started out with a 210 but followed that up with a pedestrian 185. Manacop then bounced back with a 242 and 279 in the final two games then watched as all comers failed to reach his total in Day 2 last Monday.

Richard Leong and Kitz Barja finished second and third with pinfall totals of 854 (213.5) and 827 (206.75), respectively. Both bowled Monday.

Manacop won $90 and a case of Waioka Tuna from MBI, while Leong and Barja settled for the $30 and $25 runner-up purses. Barja, who is the general manager of MBI, curiously also won a case of tuna.

Omechalang, for her part, pulled the rug from under first day leader Emi Williams by knocking down 702 pinfalls in Day 2.

She started slow with totals of 157 and 153 in the first two games before catching fire in the final two with scores of 189 and 203 en route to averaging 175.5.

Williams settled for second place with her four-game total of 699 and 174.75 average, while Gina Sablan came in third following a 685 total and 171.25 norm.

Omechalang earned $65 for her victory, plus a case of Waioka Tuna from MBI, while Williams and Sablan came away with $30 and 20, respectively. Williams also received a case of Waioka Tuna for topping Day 1.