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Castro, Terre rule CNMI May Masters
Garapan Elementary School teacher Lori Terre won her debut in the women’s division 32nd CNMI May Masters Tournament, while former champion Alex Castro topped the men’s category of the weekend competition at the Saipan Bowling Center.
Alex Castro, left, and Lori Terre pose with their trophies and cash prizes during the awards ceremony for the 32nd CNMI May Masters Tournament last Sunday at the Nami Bar of Kanoa Resort. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
Omechelang was holding on to a one-pinfall lead against Terre after 11 games, 1,848-1,847, and eventually lost the lead when the former tallied only 166 pinfalls in Game 12. The eventual runner-up record at least 200 pinfalls in two games (208 and 200) to go with her 166, 171, 147, 185, 157, 192, 114, 129, and 179 in the nine other games.
Joining Omechelang and Terre in the Top 5 were the returning Janice Camacho and Emi Williams and Diana Camacho. Janice Camacho joined the annual tournament for the second time and climbed up to third from fifth place after gaining 205 pinfalls, the most scored by any player in Game 12. She totaled 2,102 pinfalls to beat the 2009 champion Williams, who registered 1,977 in her return to the competition after a four-year absence. Diana Camacho faltered on her bid for a three-peat and settled for fifth place with her 12-game total of 1,927 pinfalls.
The Top 5 finishers received cash prizes and Terre was also presented with the championship trophy during the awards ceremony last Sunday at the Nami Bar of Kanoa Resort.
Other participants in the women’s division of the May Masters were Elena Soll (1,911), Ron Cal (1,891), Yho Villavicencio (1,851), Tess Fabie (1,844), Cora Muna (1,836), Lynn Santos (1.797), Kathy Mersai (1,790), Carrie Camacho (1,775), Maridel Camacho (1,753), Diane Chong (1,752), Lala Taitano (1,686), and Sue Ellis (1,611).
In the men’s division, Castro prevailed against 24 other participants to bag his second May Masters crown. He got his first in 2010 and finished third last year behind Robert Talavera and 2011 champion Raymond Zapanta.
Talavera boosted his bid for back-to-back champions when he led after Game 11 with 2,210 ppinfalls. Castro and eventual runner-up Rusty Musca were in third and second place, respectively, after 11 games, posting 2,158 and 2,197. However, Castro jumped to first at the end of the competition after knocking down 224 pinfalls against the 178 and 160 of Musca and Talavera, respectively. He totaled 2,382 pinfalls for a seven-pinfall lead over Musca (2,375), while Talavera’s meltdown in the last game dropped him to third (2,370).
The 224 in the finale gave Castro a strong finish in the last three games, as he logged 217 and 199 in Games 10 and 11. He had a rollercoaster showing in the first four games (194,181, 185, and 165) before earning 200-plus pinfalls in the next three (215,233, 235) and tallying 157 and 177 in Games 8 and 9.
Joining Castro, Musca, and Talavera in the Top 6 were Percy Omechelang (2,311), Raymond Angeles (2,239), and Edward Baluyan (2,226). The Top 6 in the men’s division also got cash prizes, while Castro also brought home a trophy.
Meanwhile, four Guam players also competed in the May Masters with J.D. Castro the best finisher from the visiting group with his eighth-best 2,196 pinfalls. Jay Deleon Guerrero collected 2,103 to rank No. 13, beating Vic San Nicolas (2,058/No.14) and Shawn Avellana (1,569/No.25).
Other bowlers who joined this year’s May Masters were Dannie Robles (2,176), Raul Dumapit (2,157), Raphael Zapanta (2,139), Richard Leong (2,050), Ramir Deleon (2,030), Bernard Paraiso (2,019), Wellington Ang (2,000), Roger De Guzman (1,978), Paul Pangelinan (1,900), Jorge Soledad (1,892), Ariel Dumapit (1,859), Ronald Batac (1,839), and Raymond Zapanta (1,749).
