Omechelang, Camacho top May Masters

Percy Omechelang escaped with a one-pinfall win in the 30th CNMI May Masters Tournament for his first men’s Masters crown after eight years of competing, while Diana Camacho also ended a long losing skid in the women’s division.

Omechelang posted a 12-game total of 2,361 pinfalls, stealing the men’s Masters championship from eventual runner-up Robert Talavera and third placer Alex Castro after playing steady in the last three games. Omechelang knocked down more than 200 pins in Games 10, 11, and 12 (202, 225, and 207) and had 200-plus performance in four earlier games (215 in Game 3, 204 in Game 4, 221 in Game 5, and 209 in Game 7) to stun favored and former May Masters champions Talavera and Castro.

Talavera collected 2,360 pinfalls in 12 games, falling two pinfalls short of reclaiming the title he last won in 2009 after earning only 180 pinfalls in Game 12. Before the last game, Talavera recorded 2,180 pinfalls, 26 pinfalls ahead of Omechelang, who had 2,154 after 11 games for third place. Castro was in second place after 11 games with his 2,165, but dropped to third when he made only 193 pinfalls for a total of 2,358.

Nineteen other male keglers joined the May Masters event played from May 25 to 27 at the Saipan Bowling Center in San Jose. The list includes fourth placer Rusty Musca (2,301), and Raphael (2,279) and Ruselle Zapanta (2,227), who along with the Top 3 finishers received cash prizes. Omechelang went home with a trophy and $800 cash, while Talavera and Castro pocketed $400 and $200, respectively. Musca received $100, while Raphael and Ruselle got $80 and $60, respectively.

Omechelang and company competed in the May Masters finale last Sunday after joining a four-game qualifying tournament. Danny Robles topped the qualifier with his 1,864 pinfalls, but fell to ninth in the finals, while Omechelang was only fourth in the preliminary with a four-game total of 1,770.

In the women’s division, Camacho was only second after the qualifier with her 1,503 pinfalls, but jumped to first at the end of the centerpiece May Masters event when she tallied 2,189 pinfalls.

Like Omechelang, Camacho also showed tough form in the last three games, firing 206, 207, and 205 pinfalls in Games 10 to 12, to lord it over in the 16-bowler field. She was 133 pinfalls ahead of Omechelang’s wife, Gloria, who tallied only 2,056 pinfalls after slowing down in the last two games (150 and 157).

Rounding out the Top 5 in the women’s division were Gina Sablan (2,033), qualifiers top finisher Yho Villavicencio (2,024), and Carol McKenzie (1,989).

Camacho was awarded the May Masters trophy she last hoisted in 2004 when she defeated Rizza Hensley and a $375 cash prize. Gloria Omechelang and Sablan also received trophies and $175 and $100, respectively, while Villavicencio and McKenzie settled for $75 and $40.

Besides the Masters event, the Budweiser-sponsored competition also held contests in singles, doubles, team, and all events with the winners to be published later this week.