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All hail SBA Queen Diana
Diana Camacho, right, joins Ador Dimaano for a photo as they ruled the December roll-off of the Saipan Bowling Association 2014 Budweiser King and Queen of the Lanes. Camacho topped the Queen of the Lanes finale held last Sunday.
(Contributed Photo)
Camacho, who skipped last year’s event, made sure Yho Villavicencio won’t be a repeat champion. She gained an automatic finals berth after topping the eight-game roll-off with 1,377 pinfalls to clinch the No.1 seeding and the twice-to-beat edge that goes with it.
Camacho, a perennial contender in the monthly roll-offs enjoyed an 88-pinfalls lead over Gloria Omechelang’s 1,289, while Villavicencio, the last year’s champion, finished third overall (1,289).
Omechelang and Villavicencio met in the semifinals with the latter scoring a 7-pin win over her fellow veteran, 156-149, to earn the right of facing Camacho in the finals.
It was Camacho’s fourth Queen of the Lanes crown and first since ruling the tournament in 2012. She also topped the finale in 2005 and 2007.
Camacho, before the finals, was a consistent contender in the monthly roll-offs, winning five of the 12 competitions. She won back-to-back in June and July and duplicated the feat in November and December, while also topping the September tournament.
Camacho, in the finale, had a roller-coaster 8-game series and failed to bowl in the 200s this time. She recorded 171, 176, 165, 162, 198, 180, 178, and 147 for that 1,377 tally and a 172.13 average.
Omechelang, on the other hand, started out strong with 205 and 182, but faltered midway with a 147, 152, 159 and 167. Her 129 in the seventh game and a closing 148 proved to be disastrous as she failed to clinch the top ranking. She averaged 161.13.
Villavicencio bowled 155, 181, 133, 204, 143, 150, 178 and 126 to register 1,270 and posted a 158.75 average. Janice Camacho (1,248), Elena Soll (1,241), Tess Fabie (1,219), Carrie Camacho (1,209), Rosalinda I. Cal (1,205), Lala Taitano (1,135) and Gigi Zapanta (1,054) were the other female bowlers who competed in the finals.
Villavicencio, before winning last year’s tournament, was a perennial bridesmaid for three straight years and four of the last five seasons. She placed second to Emi Williams in 2008, was a back-to-back runner-up to Omechelang from 2010 to 2011, and was again foiled by Camacho in 2012.
Cal topped the 2009 edition of the annual tournament after beating Camacho. (Jon Perez)
