Raphael, Ron win May roll-off

Youngster Raphael Zapanta and veteran kegler Ron Cal won their respective men’s and women’s roll-offs last weekend to top the May Budweiser King and Queen of the Lanes Tenpin Bowling Tournament at the Saipan Bowling Center.

Zapanta’s second victory in the 2012 monthly competition was built around three 200-plus pinfalls in Day 2 of the roll-off last Sunday.

The Saipan Southern High School student, who graduated to the men’s division despite still being eligible for the youth division, rolled a four-game series of 864.

The youngest son of bowling organizers Ross and Gigi Zapanta started with a bang after knocking down 235 pins in his first game. Zapanta followed that up with a 210 in the second before slowing down with a 167 in his third game.

He came back with the fury in his fourth and final roll with a tournament-high 252 to finish with a 216 pinfall average.

Day 1 pacesetter Edward Baluyan settled for second place after finishing with 832 pinfalls built around games of 237, 221, 168, and 232, while Zapanta’s eldest brother Ruselle completed the Top 3 with his 816 total (223, 169, 221, 203).

For winning the May crown, Raphael Zapanta took home $90, while Baluyan and Ruselle Zapanta earned $40 and $30, respectively.

Like Raphael Zapanta, the May roll-off was also Cal’s first bowling tiara of the year. Unlike the teenager though, the veteran bowler won the Queen of the Lanes on Day 1 of the competition with a four-game series of 681 last Saturday.

Cal rolled consistent games of 167, 175, 166, and 173 to finish with a 170.25 pinfall average, which was good enough to stave off Day 2 challengers.

Tess Fabie tried but failed to surpass Cal’s total when she played on Sunday and came away with a four-game series of 672 (153, 157, 183, 179) for a 168 norm.

Cora Muna dropped from second to third after Fabie’s roll-off Sunday. Muna fired a 658 last Saturday after stringing together scores of 134, 167, 180, and 177.

Cal, Fabie, and Muna pocketed $70, $35, and 25, respectively for finishing in the Top 3 of the women’s division.

Results of the Fiji Water Prince/Princess of the Lanes held last Saturday will be published in tomorrow’s edition of the Saipan Tribune.

The King, Queen, and Prince/Princess of the Lanes is sponsored by MARPAC and organized by the Saipan Bowling Association.