Leong tops High Average

Richard Leong continued his strong play in the local bowling circuit after taking home the High Average award in the just concluded 16th season of the PBA-CBC Friday Night League held at the Capital Bowling Center in Garapan.

The 36-year-old southpaw finished the season with 13,197 pinfalls in 68 games for OML to average a whopping 204.6 pins a game.

Asked about his secret this past few months, the Multi-Line Supply employee said he just tries to be consistent every time he steps foot on the wooden lanes of Saipan’s bowling centers.

Leong won the July and September editions of the Pepsi King of the Lanes Tenpin Bowling Tournament and he did the trick in two different venues—the CBC and the older but more storied Saipan Bowling Center in San Jose.

Marie Manansala of 8 Gam3ler/GEC Pawnshop, for her part, won the High Average plum for women keglers after she rolled an average of 164.54 a game.

In other individual awards, Raymond Zapanta of UIC was conferred the SBA Special Award-Youth Bowler with over 200 average after the Kagman High School student normed 201.5 pinfalls for the season.

Chester Bai of Verizon Reload and Manansala were named most improved bowlers of the season after the two managed to hike their game averages by 29.45 and 20.58 pins, respectively.

In the High Game Scratch, Dannie Robles of Cooking Gas was the hands-down winner after he became only the fourth bowler in the CNMI to roll a perfect game of 300. He was followed by Rajamsbelle’s Jeff Cania, who managed a 297. The order was reversed in the High Game with Handicap with Cania taking top honors with his 325 and Robles settling for second with his 304.

Manansala won both the High Game Scratch and its handicap version for women after she knocked down 213 and 247 pins, respectively.

Leong won a second and third award after finishing first in both High Series Scratch and High Series with Handicap.

The Cainta, Rizal, Philippines native demolished 716 pins in the non-handicap version to beat Robles (704) and then smacked 737 to edge Arnel Del Rosario (731) of champion team Pogey Points to top the High Series Scratch with Handicap.

Manansala ran her total trophy haul to six when she won the High Series Scratch and High Series with Handicap categories. Her 571 and 689 in both categories assured her of a season sweep of all the women’s awards.

The 16th season of the PBA-CBC Friday Night League was organized by the Philippine Bowling Association and Capital Bowling Center. Results were made available by league secretary Rene Cabigao. Other officials of the PBA are president Jess Rebusada, vice president Milo Orallo, treasurer Ross Zapanta, and auditor Bert Travilla.

For more information on the PBA-CBC Friday Night League and other competitions organized by the PBA, visit their website at www.pbasaipan.com.