Back-to-back for Omechelang

It’s two in a row for Gloria Omechelang.

Omechelang ruled last Sunday’s 2011 Saipan Bowling Association /Budweiser Queen of the Lanes Tournament to successfully defend the championship she won in 2010.

The back-to-back champion prevailed over Yho Villavicencio and Carol McKenzie in the stepladder finals to top the season-ending competition held at the Capitol Bowling Center.

A third place finish in the eight-game elimination round put Omechelang in the stepladder finals. She collected 1,271 pinfalls and averaged 158.88 in eight games. She was consistent in the first four games, knocking 150-plus pinfalls (155, 158, 169, 159) and after a meltdown in Game 5 (122 pinfalls), she finished strong in the last three games, tallying 180, 191, and 147, to secure a spot in the next round.

Villavicencio dominated the eight-game elimination with her 1,372 pinfalls and average of 171.50. She had the second highest score in a single game (191 in Game 6), logged her lowest output in Game 5 (138), and posted 160 to 180 plus pinfalls in six other games (183, 179, 174, 184, 163, and 160).

With Villavicencio placing first in the 10-kegler elimination, she automatically advanced to the finals and waited for the winner of the playoff game between Omechelang and McKenzie.

McKenzie made it to the stepladder finals after a runner-up finish in the elimination round where she carded 1,298 pinfalls. McKenzie was the lone bowler to knock down more than 200 pins in a single game (214 in Game 2) to go with her 146, 154, 160, 181, 137, 161, and 145 for an average of 162.25 pinfalls.

In the stepladder finals, McKenzie ran out of steam, allowing Omechelang to nail a 143-128 win and set up a finals rematch against Villavicencio. In the 2010 finale, Omechelang and Villavicencio had a face-off with the former having a twice-to-beat advantage and prevailing right away in Game 1, 170-134, to secure the championship.

In the 2011 finale, tables were turned with Villavicencio owning the twice-to-beat edge. However, Omechelang overcame the advantage and won two games to steal the championship. Omechelang won Game 1 by 12 pinfalls, 187-175, to force a rubber match and completed the come-from-behind victory with a 153-121 triumph in Game 2. By the end of the finals, Omechelang earned 340 pinfalls, 44 pinfalls more than Villavicencio’s total (296).

Meanwhile, other female keglers who joined the season-ending finale were Mel Regis (1,223 pinfalls), Lala Taitano (1,204), Ron Cal (1,201), Diane Chong (1,156), Gigi Zapanta (1,147), Tess Fabie (1,091), and Myrna Santos (1,050).