SBA finale roll-off winners feted

Gloria Omechelang had her hands full during the awards ceremony for the 2011 Budweiser King and Queen/Fiji Water Prince of the Lanes last Sunday at Shirley’s Coffee Shop in Susupe.

Omechelang received the 2011 Queen of the Lanes trophy and also took home prizes for topping the Bowling Ranking System and playing the most tournaments for the season. The veteran female kegler ruled the season-ending roll-off after prevailing against Yho Villavicencio and Carol McKenzie in the stepladder finals and pocketed $300. She then won an overnight stay for two with breakfast gift certificate for earning 745 BRS points and a Budweiser beach chair for competing in all of the 12 monthly roll-offs Saipan Bowling Association had in 2011. Gloria shared the same perfect attendance record with husband Percy, while Raymond Zapanta reigned supreme in the men’s BRS with his 700 points.

Cash prizes and trophies were also handed out to Villavicencio and McKenzie, who got $150 and $100, while Mel Regis gained $70 and Lala Taitano went home with $40 for rounding out the Top 5. Gift certificates were awarded to Ron Cal, Diane Chong, Gigi Zapanta, Tess Fabie, and Myrna Santos for placing sixth to 10th in the 2011 finale roll-off held on Jan. 8.

In the King of the Lanes tournament, champion Simon Manacop was $700 richer and also received a trophy, while runners-up Ruselle and Raymond Zapanta took $350 and $200, respectively. Fourth placer Robert Talavera, fifth placer Alex Castro, and sixth placer Efren Cacdac were also awarded cash prizes, while gift certificates were given to Percy Omechelang, Raphael Zapanta, Paul Pangelinan, Ronald Batac, Jerry Kaneshi, and Tony Yarobwemal, who also joined the finale roll-off on Jan. 15.

For the Fiji Water Prince of the Lanes, John Taisacan, who upset favored Marion McKenzie and M.J. Aldan, took home $180 cash, a trophy, one box of Fiji Water, and a gift certificate. Marion McKenzie and Aldan settled for trophies and $90 and $50, respectively, while Marcel McKenzie and Ryan Batac were given lunch give certificates. Aldan won an extra prize—a beach chair—for competing in all 12 roll-offs for youth bowlers.

SBA official Ross Zapanta led the announcement of awardees, while SBA president Jerry Tan handed out the prizes to the winners. After the presentation, Tan encouraged SBA members to keep competing despite the economic struggles the CNMI is currently facing.