Paranaque wins Asian Intercity overall title

Powered by former Professional Bowling Association player Purvis Granger’s swashbuckling performance in the masters, Paranaque City took home the overall championship of the 18th Asian Intercity Bowling Championship that concluded Sunday at the Megalanes of Shah Alam, Malaysia.

Granger momentarily lost the lead after the 15th game to Shah Alam’s Zulmazran Zulkifli but rebounded mightily in the final game to win the men’s masters title by 37 pins.

The 40-year-old Granger went on to score 3,573 pinfalls, while Zulmazran settled for runner-up honors in the 16-game event after knocking down 3,536 pins. Jakarta’s Ryan Lalisang salvaged third place after rolling a 3,486.

Granger’s teammate and 2003 World Cup champion C.J. Suarez came short of the medal standings but battled from sixth place with only a game remaining to finish fourth with a pinfall total of 3,414. Uiwang’s Park Ji Kwon placed fifth with 3,401.

Granger’s gold in the masters tilt gave Paranaque City its sixth gold medal of the 17-city tenpin tournament. The team’s treasure trove of medals also include four silver, two bronze and a couple of 4th place finishes, which gave them a total of 48 points in the overall standings.

Shah Alam came in second in the overall results with 27.5 points built around two gold, four silver, two bronze, and two 4th place finishes. With 19.5 points Jakarta wound up in third place with one gold, one silver, three bronze, and a 4th place finish.

Jakarta’s lone gold medal haul was courtesy of Happy Soediyono, who flexed her muscles in the women’s masters. After a slow start, the 29-year-old Indonesian National team member won her last seven games to come home with a score 3,295.

Zandra Aziela of Shah Alam and Liza Clutario of Paranaque City came away with the silver and bronze, respectively. Aziela totaled 3,248 pinfalls, while Clutario had 3,231.

As if the overall team trophy was not enough, Paranaque City also snatched the men’s and women’s overall medal standings with 25 and 24 points, respectively.

Closer to home, Mark “The Shark” Halstead had the best performance among the eight bowlers the CNMI sent to the weeklong bowl fest.

Although he failed to duplicate his masters stint a year ago in Paranaque City, Halstead finished 23rd in the 65-man field. He went on to roll a respectable 3,384 pinfalls to average a 188 in the men’s all events, which accumulates the scores in the singles, doubles, and team events.

Simon Manacop was the CNMI’s second best bowler of the confab, winding up with 3,325 pinfalls and 184.71 average. Robert Talavera, who finished seventh in singles, limped with below-average games in the doubles and team events and ranked 30th overall with a score of 3,294 (183 average).

Joseph Sablan (3,242 and 180.11), Danilo Robles (3,067 and 170.39), Michael Guirey (3,057 and 169.83), John Santos (3,051 and 169.50), and Frank Sablan (3,018 and 167.67) make up the rest of the CNMI players that participated in the Shah Alam tourney.

The CNMI delegation to the Shah Alam tournament was also composed of delegation head Jerry Tan and team manager Ross Zapanta. Continental Airlines, Micronesian Brokers, Inc., and Saipan Bowling Association sponsored the keglers.