Raymond Zapanta: Reaching for new heights

Raymond Zapanta started to play bowling in an age when most kids were just learning how to read and write.

The 2004 Philippine Bowling Association Bowler of the Year took up the sport when he was just 6 years old. He was too young and too small to wear bowling shoes, much less grip the regular bowling ball. But he didn’t allow that little obstacle to deter him.

“It started out as a family thing. We would go to Saipan Bowling Center on Sunday nights and play open bowling. I would bowl using a plastic ball and just with my socks on because they didn’t have my shoe size,” said Zapanta.

At age 9, Zapanta got his first taste of bowling competition, when his father, Rosauro, and mother, Elsa, entered him in a youth league held on Sundays. With his older brother, Ruselle, Zapanta even at a tender age slowly learned the ins and outs of the sport.

A few years later, Zapanta would participate in his first tournament – the 1997 Guam-Saipan Friendship Tournament—and at age 11 he graduated to the adult leagues.

While trading shots with bowlers twice his age in open tournaments, Zapanta also took time to represent Saipan in off-island competitions.

He hit pay dirt in 1999 and 2001, when he brought home gold medals in the bantam and junior divisions, respectively. He said those wins proved that he could indeed compete at a high level.

Which now brings us to his recent victory in the PBA Bowler of the Year Tournament, which Zapanta counts as the biggest win of his young career.

“For sure this year’s PBA Bowler of the Year tourney has been the most memorable. I won $1,000 and that’s the most money I’ve won in any tournament. But what really made it special was I went up against older, more experienced bowlers and I managed to come out on top,” he said.

Zapanta won the title against the likes of veteran pin-busters Mark Halstead, Ronald Epan, Raul Dumapit, and Alex Cacdac.

Despite a trophy case full of—what else—trophies, Zapanta still finds fulfillment each time he steps into the bowling lane. For instance, one accomplishment he was particular fond of was the “7-10” split he recently rolled during the Wednesday Night League.

Not content just sitting on his laurels, Zapanta continues his training regimen of Saturday morning bowling practice with Ruselle and fellow youth bowler Raymond Angeles.

“My game before used to be based on accuracy, but now since going to many off-island tournaments and watching many good bowlers, I saw that power is also a big factor. I have increased my ball speed, and I lift my ball more,” he said.

Zapanta also continues to compete in the monthly Pepsi King of the Lanes, which he won in March, and is a fixture in the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday leagues.

The 16-year-old Kagman High School student has also set his sights on other goals, the most ambitious of which is bowling the perfect game.

“Like with any other bowlers, one of my goals is to bowl a perfect game. My highest game so far is 274. Another goal is to bowl an 800 three-game series; right now my highest and only 700 series is 731,” he said.

Internationally, Zapanta said he dreams of winning medals for Saipan and the CNMI, and one day qualify for the masters event of a major international tournament.

Zapanta also paid homage to two people who have been instrumental for his growth, both as a bowler and as a person.

“My dad has always been there for me and my whole family. If it wasn’t for him coordinating the PBA leagues, being in the Saipan Bowling Association, and running many of the tournaments, I don’t think the sport of bowling would even get this far. Another big influence is Jerry Tan. He has always been a big supporter of youth bowling. And I actually consider him like a second father,” he said.

Zapanta lives with his parents and brothers Ruselle and Raphael on Capitol Hill. He is also part of Kagman’s National Honor Society and is active in many school activities.

“I didn’t really expect it [bowling] would be a big part of my life. I guess I just got hooked because my whole family bowls. I also bowl because it’s really a challenging sport and gives you an opportunity to travel to many different parts of the world,” he said.