Zapanta is PBA Bowler of the Year

Being a 16-year-old competing against veterans who are much older in age can be pretty tough, but the task of finding success despite the mentioned obstacle was recently conquered after youth bowler Raymond Zapanta emerged as the Philippine Bowling Association Bowler of the Year for 2004.

In fact, the Kagman High School student simply dominated the PBA Bowler of the Year tournament last Sunday at the Saipan Bowling Center en route to reigning supreme.

Faced against 23 other topnotch bowlers including father Ross Zapanta, Mark “The Shark” Halstead, Ronald Epan, Raul Dumapit, and Alex Cacdac, among others, Raymond managed to post the highest total score after completing nine games with a total of 1,774, and thus, was seeded No. 1 in the step ladder finals, in which only the Top 5 bowlers advanced to.

Halstead, who knocked down 1,743 pins, also advanced to the battle for all the marbles, as well as Ross Zapanta (1725), Dumapit (1,721), and Epan (1,708).

The first bout of the finals featured the elder Zapanta, Dumapit, and Epan squaring off. Epan barely survived to play another round after edging his opponents with a score of 171, just one pin more than Zapanta. For his part, Dumapit bruised up 153 pins before being eliminated from the contest.

Epan’s win set up a do-or-die battle with Halstead, and again, he managed to slip past his obstacle by a slim 2 pins. He finished with another solid round, posting a score of 212, while Halstead’s fire came up just a bit short as he mustered up 210.

With that, the stage was set for the winner-take-all finale.

“I was nervous,” said Raymond Zapanta. “I began with two open frames after guttering in the second one, and that gave Ronald more confidence. But after that, I didn’t think of being nervous.”

His conquering of butterflies in his stomach worked as Zapanta would bowl with perfection in his next four frames to swing momentum to his corner.

Sunk in a zone of his own, Zapanta went on to claim the title, and did it in convincing fashion after beating Epan, 205-166.

“I was really excited,” the young champion said. “This is the biggest accomplishment of my bowling career.”

Zapanta was awarded his championship trophy and $1,000 later that night at the PBA awards ceremony held at Ysabel Restaurant in San Jose.

Epan’s efforts was also well recognized as he also received a shiny hardware and $700, while Halstead and Ross Zapanta took home $375 and $250.

Dumapit also received $200 for his fifth place finish. Rounding up the Top 10 were Cacdac (1,676, $150), Ruselle Zapanta (1,612, $125), Edgar Talavera (1,607, $87.50), Robert Talavera (1,607, $87.50), and Jess Rebusada (1,605, $50).

The PBA also awarded winners of its Saturday Night Bowling League and Annual Classified Tournament.

Halstead was champion of the Class A in the Classified tourney, and received $575 to go along with another trophy, while Epan and Ruselle Zapanta placed second and third for $375 and $275.

The rest of the Class A winners are as follows: John Santos ($175), Joe Sablan ($150), Lynell Fulgencio ($100), Dannie Robles ($75), Simon Manacop ($60), Ian Cabrera ($50), Rebusada ($40), Edgar Talavera ($30), and Ador Dimaano ($25).

Class B was topped by John Rimirch ($400), Jojo Santos ($250), Eli Macaspac ($150), Jun Canillo ($100), Lito Teodoro ($80), Edgar Marquez ($50), Ramon Angeles ($37.50), Ron Cal ($37.50), Arnel Batac ($30), and dong Eparwa ($25).

Jun Villas grabbed the spotlight in Class C, winning first place and the $300 that goes along with it, while Elena Soll took second place ($200) and Bong Sese placed third ($100). Gigi Zapanta ($75.50), Dennis Pacheco ($50), Rene Atienza ($35), and Fred Gonzales ($25) followed.

Topping the Saturday Night League was Fun and Games, while Seabridge Inc./Micronesian Brokers and SBC/J’s Restaurant followed in second and third.

(Note: More on the Saturday Night League in tomorrow’s issue)