Robert Talavera paces SBA rankings

With the rate he’s been playing the first quarter of the year, it’s no surprise that Robert Talavera finds himself on top of the Bowling Ranking System compiled by the Saipan Bowling Association.

The 36-year-old native of Minalin, Pampanga in the Philippines has amassed 354 points and has a firm hold on the No. 1 spot, as he is currently 108 points ahead of his closest pursuer, Arnel Del Rosario.

Talavera, who fulfilled every bowler’s dream with a perfect game last Feb. 15, kicked off his 2006 campaign by reigning supreme in the January Pepsi King of the Lanes at his favorite digs at the Saipan Bowling Center.

After getting 100 points from the monthly event, the SBC lanes supervisor then picked up another 75 and 80 points from the Tuesday Night League and the Saturday Night League, respectively.

Talavera had a dismal showing and added just 14 points to his total during the February King of the Lanes at Capitol Bowling Center, which normally favors southpaws. However, he bounced right back with a strong performance in the March edition of the event, finishing second to a fired-up Raul Dumapit to collect 85 points.

Del Rosario, for his part, has been more steady than spectacular in the first four months of 2006, quietly amassing the second highest point total in the BRS with 246 points.

Save for 16 points in the January King of the Lanes, Del Rosario has blazed the bowling lanes and was credited for 50 points in the Tuesday Night League and 70 points in the Saturday Night League. He even beat Talavera in the February King of the Lanes with his 35 points before finishing third in the March edition of the roll-off, good for another 75 points.

Talavera’s “kuya” Edgar currently sits in third place in the BRS with 197 points. The Fiesta Resort & Spa employee garnered 65 points in the season opening King of the Lanes, followed it up with 35 and 20 points in the Tuesday and Saturday night leagues, respectively, before getting a measly 12 points at CBC during the February King of the Lanes. He then got 65 points for finishing fourth in the March King of the Lanes at the SBC.

Youth bowler Glenn Garde and veteran kegler Jonathan Eparwa are in fourth and fifth place in the BRS with 180 and 150 points, respectively.

Garde collected 55, 50, and 75 points in the season’s first three events, but was conspicuously absent in its last two, while Eparwa sandwiched bowling excellence with 85 points in the January King of the Lanes, 45 in the February edition, and 20 in the Saturday Night League with nary a point during the Tuesday Night League and March King of the Lanes.

The rest of the BRS Top 10 are occupied by 2005 King of the Lanes and February winner Richard Leong (141 points), veteran bowler Joseph Sablan (140), youth bowler Raymond Angeles (136), March King of the Lanes Dumapit (136), and perfect game achiever Dannie Robles (126).

The BRS was set up to determine the top players that will compete in the season-ending King of the Lanes set for early January 2006. It was also implemented to choose the bowlers that will represent the CNMI in regional and international competitions.

For more information on the BRS compiled by SBA, email BSA official Ross Zapanta at zapanta@vzpacifica.net.