Talavera caps year in style

For Robert Talavera, concentration and consistency are two important keys to finding success.

The veteran kegler had both in check and was in a zone of his own as he reigned supreme in the Pepsi December King of the Lanes Tournament at the Saipan Bowling Center in Oleai.

Playing at his home turf, the SBC employee dominated on Sunday and earned the monthly award after knocking down a whopping 951 pins.

Satisfied with the lane conditions, Talavera got off to a decent start as he bruised 210 pins in his first game.

Talavera then caught fire and drilled 258 and 257 pins in his second and third games, before closing out his charge with 226 pins for an average of 237.75 pins per game.

He tried to improve his play on Monday, however, managed to hit just 826 pins for a 205.5 average. The performance, however, was seventh best in the tournament.

“The lane is too dry for me [Monday], but [Sunday] night, it was good for me because the lane was a little bit oily…that’s an advantage for me,” he said shortly after receiving his championship award. “You have to focus on the lane, like I did on Sunday. I focused and caught the right spot and right timing, and my form was good.”

Talavera took up the sport a year after arriving on island, and since 1990, has learned to love the sport.

“I work here and that’s why I pick bowling,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jon Hensley finished in second place after his Sunday score was well ahead of the pack and only behind Talavera.

After posting similar scores in the first three games—217, 216, and 213—Hensley heated up and sizzled in his final try to bulldoze 279 pins in his fourth game for a total of 925 pins and an average of 231.25 pins per game.

Talavera’s brother, Edgar, placed third and had the best opening game of the tournament after his ball struck 246 pins. He continued to play well and recorded a score of 235 in his second game. He remained on track with 214 pins in his third game but couldn’t hold his ground and posted a pedestrian 169 in his final shot. He had a total of 864 pins for an average of 216.

With the win, Robert Talavera went home with a shiny trophy and $150, while Hensley and Edgar Talavera pocketed $70 and $40.

Rusty Musca, Raymond Angeles, Glen Garde, Paul Pangelinan, Raymond Zapanta, and Roman Borja also finished in the top 10.

Musca finished just a pin behind Edgar with 863 for an average of 215 pins per outing to win $35, while the young Angeles scored over 200 in all four games and averaged 210 pins per game to go home with $30. Garde also qualified for cash as he earned $25 after posting a total score of 836 pins for an average of 209 per game.

Pangelinan finished with 809 pins, Zapanta 807, and Borja 802.

The monthly bowling competition is sponsored by Pacific Trading Co. and organized by the Saipan Bowling Association. It culminates with a championship tournament next month, with all monthly 2005 winners battling for supremacy.