CNMI teams for Asian Intercity finalized

The CNMI will be well represented in the upcoming 20th Asian Intercity Bowling Championship on Guam later this month.

According to Saipan Bowling Association official and delegation manager Ross Zapanta, three teams will take the trip south and compete against the best from the Asian region.

The delegation will be led by the Saipan Men’s Team, which comprises Francisco “Kitz” Barja, Raymond Zapanta, Richard Leong, and Simon Manacop.

Ron Cal, Gloria Omechelang, Emi Williams, and rising star Jerrie Vales make up the Saipan Women’s Team, while youth bowlers Raymond Angeles, Tony Cruz, and Jeremy Williams join Chester Bai in the Capitol Hill Men’s Team.

Zapanta explained that the selection of the players was based on the SBA Bowler Ranking System.

He said the Top 4 ranked men’s players were selected for the Saipan Men’s Team, and the Top 3 females for the Saipan Women’s Team. The fourth female bowler was selected by the SBA official coach and trainer for the current batch of girls youth bowlers.

The Top 10 men were given invitations, however, most were without U.S. visas. With that, the No. 2-ranked Leong, No. 9 Manacop, and No. 13 Barja were selected. No. 12 Paul Pangelinan was also selected, but withdrew due to conflict of schedule. As a result, No. 21 Chester Bai was selected based on recommendations from coach Sarah Yap.

Cal, Williams, and Omechelang are the Top 3 female bowlers, and Vales joined the group as she is the top female youth bowler in the CNMI, winning several Princess of the Lanes tournaments, and most recently, the October Pepsi Queen of the Lanes.

The bowlers trained twice a week for the past three months with Yap. Several separate group sessions were also held, and the training included physical conditioning and mentoring on how to deal with lane conditions.

Zapanta said the final composition of the two men’s teams was done by Yap, who moved Raymond Zapanta to the Saipan Men’s Team and added Bai to the Capital Hill squad as Bai was making his debut in off-island competition.

The tournament will be held from Nov. 5 to Nov. 11 at the Central Lanes Bowling Center in Tamuning, Guam.

Delegations will reside at the Fiesta Resort Guam.

“We will strive to ensure that our aspirants enjoy the competitive atmosphere brought about during the championships and hope that they will leave with an everlasting experience of the beautiful surroundings our island-friendly atmosphere has to offer,” said Guam Bowling Congress president Gordon T.C. Chu in the official invitation given to SBA.