Camacho, Elliot rule Budweiser May Masters

Saipan’s Janice Camacho, left, and Guam’s Aaron Elliot pose with their trophies and prizes during the awards ceremony for the 35th CNMI May Masters Tournament held last Sunday at the Nami Bar of Kanoa Resort. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Saipan’s Janice Camacho and Guam’s Aaron Elliot topped the 35th CNMI May Masters Tournament held over the weekend at the Saipan Bowling Center.

Camacho defeated 14 other bowlers in the women’s division after collecting 2,070 pins in 12 games, while Elliot had total of 2,334 pinfalls to beat fellow Guam bet J.D. Castro and 14 Saipan players in the men’s field.

Elliot won by only five pins against Simon Manacop, who registered a 12-game total of 2,329 pinfalls. The visiting bowler earned enough lead in the early goings of the tournament to foil Manacop’s comeback bid. Elliot had 200-plus pinfalls in three games with his best (266) posted in Game 3. He registered 243 and 203 in Games 8 and 9, while Manacop’s 200-plus performance came in Games 5 (234), 8 (206), 9 (233), and 12 (227). The Saipan bowler went on to average 194.08 against the 194.50 of Elliot.

Elliot went back to Guam with a cash prize, trophy, and gifts from tournament sponsor Budweiser/MARPAC. Manacop, Raymond Zapanta, Rusty Musca, Robert Talavera, and Alex Castro also received cash and in-kind prizes.

Zapanta finished third after logging 2,170 in 12 games and averaging 180.83, while Musca came in at fourth with his 2,144 total and 178.67 average. Talavera placed fifth with his 2,100 (175 average), followed by Alex Castro (2,009.174.92), Castro (2,097/174.75), Mikee Guirey (2,091/174/25), Richard Leong (2,087/173.92), and Ador Dimaano (2,050/170.83) in the Top 10.

In the women’s division, Janice Camacho was way ahead of runner-up Diana Camacho as the former won by 67 pins after the latter’s gained 2,003 in 12 games. Janice and Diana were the only two bowlers to score at least 2,000 pinfalls in the weekend tournament and they averaged 172.50 and 166.92, respectively.

Janice managed to take the division title despite posting her lowest score (117) in the tournament in Game 12. Earlier in Game 11, Janice had 207 pins to widen the gap against Diana, who had 180 in Game 11 and 193 in the last. Janice’s other 200-plus pinfall show was in Game 6 (202), while Diana had her highest in Game 12.

Third place Tess Fabie came up with a 12-game total of 1,989 and averaged 165.75 to join Janice and Diana in the podium. Kathy Mersai (1,966), Maridel Camacho (1,868), Elena Soll (1,859), Mel Regis (1,849), Yho Villavicencio (1,808), Lala Taitano (1,778), and Ron Cal (1,751) rounded out the Top 10.