Pangelinan ends 10-year drought

Finally, after a decade, Paul Pangelinan hoisted the PBA-Budweiser Bowler of the Year trophy again.

Pangelinan was named the 2011 PBA-Budweiser Bowler of the Year—the same title he earned in 2001—after surviving Richard Leong in the stepladder finals on July 10 at the Saipan Bowling Center.

Leong won Game 1 of the finals, 173-164, to extend the championship showdown. In the deciding Game 2, Pangelinan came out with vengeance in mind and routed Leong, 183-145, to claim his second PBA-Budweiser Bowler of the Year plum.

“Finally I won again. It’s been awhile,” said Pangelinan in a brief interview during the awards presentation at SBC in San Jose Saturday evening.
“Perseverance is key to winning. Just keep on playing. Keep on trying,” he added.

Pangelinan made it to the finals outright when he topped the nine-game elimination roll-off. He carded 1,768 pinfalls in the elimination round for an average of 198.44. Pangelinan had a slow start, scoring less than 200 pinfalls in the first four games (179, 185, 181, and 185) before heating up in the next two games (245 and 227). He was cold again in Game 7, posting only 160 pinfalls, but had a solid finish with 218 and 188 pinfalls in Games 8 and 9 for a slim two-pinfall lead over second finisher Leong (1,766).

Leong settled for a second slot in the stepladder finals and joined three other qualifiers—Raymond Angeles (1,756), Ronald Epan (1,748), and Raymond Zapanta (1,713).

The last three qualifiers had a playoff game for the right to face Leong in the semifinals. Zapanta won with his 177 pinfalls, besting the 161 and 158 of Angeles and Epan, respectively. Then in the semifinals, Leong prevailed over Zapanta, 207-146. Leong extended his winning streak with a nine-pinfall victory over Pangelinan in Game 1 of the finals before the latter came out in Game 2 with a bang to win the coveted plum.

The battle for the PBA-Budweiser Bowler of the Year trophy featured the 12 monthly winners from July 2010 to June 2011 and 14 other keglers who made the grade in the qualifying tournament.

All the monthly winners received trophies and gift certificates, while Pangelinan went home with $800 besides the trophy. Leong and Zapanta got $450 and $300, respectively Cash prizes were also given to the fourth to eighth placers. Angeles pocketed $200, Epan went home with $100, Ruselle Zapanta received $85, and Percy Omechelang and Simon Manacop had $70 and $50, respectively.

Last year’s PBA-Budweiser Bowler of the Year Robert Talavera only finished 10th, one notch behind Alex Castro. The two bowlers received gift certificates.