Guirey flirts with perfect game

Mike Guirey flirted with a perfect game in his third outing but settled for winning the November Pepsi King of the Lanes Tenpin Bowling Tournament instead Monday night at the Saipan Bowling Center.

The 40-year-old M&D Aironditioning and General Merchandise employee brought a potential 300 game into the 11th frame of his third game but left a pin in his next shot to settle for a 288.

“I was shaking nervously on that shot (11th frame) and was just hoping for the best. Too bad I wasn’t able to pull it off,” said Guirey immediately after being declared the winner.

Guirey, who hails from the summer capital of the Philippines, Baguio City, and is half Igorot, said it was the closest he came to rolling a perfect game. He said he knocked down 280 early this year and also once rolled a 277.

With his pretty wife Edna watching, Guirey had an inspired performance Monday, opening his campaign with 235 pinfalls. He encountered a hiccup of sorts in his second game, firing a pedestrian 184 before coming up with 10 straight strikes in the third game for that big 288. He wound up his championship run by knocking down 182 and finished with a total of 889 pinfalls, good for a whopping average of 222.25.

In far second was Glenn O. Garde. The newcomer knocked down in excess of 200 pins in all four games to finish with a score of 834 or a 208.5 pins per game norm. He rolled a 203 in his trip to the wood and maple lanes, added a 202 and continued to progress with scores of 208 and 221.

First-day leader Edgar Talavera slid to No. 3 after his 829 total Sunday was topped by Guirey and Garde. The Pampanga native had a roller coaster ride, blasting a 245 in his first game, slowing down with a 180 in his second, and then knocking a 222 before bowing out with a 182.

Veteran Jess Rebusada and youngster Raymond Zapanta complete the Top 5 with pinfall totals of 819 and 810, respectively. Rebusada rolled off Sunday and had a 212, 190, 220, 197 outing. Zapanta, for his part, saw action Monday and managed a 193, 178, 214, and 225 performance.

Guirey became $150 richer for his exploits, while Garde and Talavera took home $70 and $40 respectively. Rebusada pocketed $35 and Zapanta $30.

The rest of the Top 10, with their scores and cash prizes in parenthesis, were as follows: Ruselle Zapanta (796 pinfalls, $25); Roman N. Mamauag (785, $20); Arnel R. Del Rosario (780, $15); Rusty Musc (777); and John Santos (773).

The November Pepsi King of the Lanes Tournament attracted a total of 74 entries. The monthly bowling competition is organized by the Saipan Bowling Association and is sponsored by Pacific Trading Co. It will culminate with a season-ending championship tournament in January.