Talavera, Manacop go down fighting

The CNMI bowlers’ campaign in the 18th Asian Intercity Bowling Champion again yielded no medal as pin-busters Robert Talavera, Simon Manacop, Mark Halstead, and John Santos finished in the middle of the pack in yesterday’s doubles competition at the Megalanes in Shah Alam, Malaysia.

Talavera and Manacop of Team Capitol Hill almost broke into the Top 10 coming in 11th place in Squad B, while Halstead and Santos of Team Saipan ranked 14th in the same group.

The Commonwealth’s other two doubles teams – Dannie Robles and Mike Guirey of Capitol Hill and Joseph and Frank Sablan of Team Saipan—were still playing their six-game series as of press time.

If there’s any consolation, however, Talavera and Halstead are currently in the Top 16 of the All Events category. Talavera sits in 10th place with 2,271 pinfalls or an average of 189.5, while Halstead is hanging on his fingertips at 16th place with 2,223 pinfalls or a 185.25 norm.

On the outside looking in for the CNMI is Manacop at the 21st spot (2,164) and Santos at No. 30 (2,062).

Talavera and Manacop combined for a pinfall total of 2,126. Manacop was the CNMI’s second top performer of the day, rolling a 1,071 (178.5 average), while Talavera struggled to find his form, as the right-hander knocked down only 1,055 pins (175.83) a day after finishing seventh best in singles.

Halstead and Santos rolled a 2,068. Halstead was his usual striking self, compiling a CNMI best 1,073 pinfalls (178.73), while Santos had trouble adjusting to the lanes, coming up with just a 995 (165.83).

Taking home the gold was the tandem of Daniel Lim and Zulmazrab Zulkifli of Shah Alam, as Lim seems to have the golden touch in the tournament after winning his second first place medal in two days.

Obviously reaping the benefits of home cooking, Lim and Zulkifli rolled an incredible score of 2,482. This time, Zulkifli had a better average than Lim’s, 207.67 to 206.

Jakarta’s Ryan Lalisang and Yuyu Lie Joe Tjam cornered the silver after knocking down a total of 2,416 pinfalls. Third place and the bronze went to Nichol Yap and Sandy Cotoco of Pasay City with 2,350 pins.

Uiwang’s Oh Young Ki and Jo Nam Yi (2,346) settled for fourth place, while last year’s AMF World Bowling Cup champion C.J. Suarez and Johnson Cheng of Paranaque City closed out the Top 5 in the doubles with their combined score of 2,342.

Next up for the CNMI’s top bowlers is the team of four competition, which starts today at 9am. Team Saipan and Team Capitol Hill are both being sponsored by Continental Airlines, Micronesian Brokers, Inc., and the Saipan Bowling Association.

Joining the eight bowlers in the trip to Malaysia are SBA president and delegation head Jerry Tan and team manager Ross Zapanta.

On Tuesday night, Liza Clutario of Paranaque City snatched the gold medal from leader Zandra Aziela of Shah Alam in the final game to claim the women’s singles title. Zatil Iman, also of Sha Alam, bagged the bronze.