Multiple triumphs for Villavicencio

Despite missing the May Masters crown, veteran bowler Yho Villavicencio was still a happy woman, as she took home multiple trophies and cash prizes during the awards ceremony for the 30th CNMI May Masters Tournament last Sunday at the Shirley’s Coffee Shop in Susupe.

Villavicencio, who finished only fourth in the May Masters race, received first place trophies in the women’s all events, doubles, and team divisions and pocketed an additional $240 cash prize besides the $75 she won in the Masters tournament.

In the doubles event, Villavicencio teamed up with fellow veteran kegler Elena Soll and together, the seasoned duo collected 1,042 pinfalls to beat the mother-and-daughter tandem of Diana and Carrie Camacho (986). The Camachos also won third place with their 944 pinfalls, while Glorie Omechelang and Diana Chong netted 939 pinfalls to finish fourth.

In the team competition, Villavicencio again joined forces with Soll, along with Tess Fabie and Lala Taitano. The quartet combined for 1,855 pinfalls with Villavicencio contributing the most with her 510 pinfalls to prevail over four other teams. Fabie added 481, while Soll and Taitano scored 468 and 396, respectively, to down the foursome of Ron Cal (554), Carol McKenzie (470), Guam’s Maddison Willis (425), and Gina Sablan (383), who totaled 1,832 pinfalls. Sue Ellis (472), Lucy Deleon Guerrero (455), and Diana (445) and Carrie (434) Camacho rounded out the Top 3 with their 1,806 pinfalls.

The team of Omechelang (462), Gigi Zapanta (379), Diane Chong (447), and Ron Cal (483) placed fourth with 1,771 pinfalls, while the quartet of Janette Regaspi (430), Gloria Pagaro (455), Marie Candido (371), and Myrna Santos (443) ended up at fifth with 1,699.

In the all events, Villavicencio collected 1,543, counting her 480 in the singles event (eighth best), for a 40-pinfall win over eventual May Masters champion and singles winner Diana Camacho (1,503). Cal completed the Top 3 with her 1,471 pinfalls (515 in singles, 474 in doubles, and 483 in team.

Diana Camacho took the singles crown after carding 545 pinfalls, 19 pinfalls ahead of runner-up Diane Chong (526). Gloria Omechelang earned 524 to finish third. Camacho started strong in the singles event with her 199 pinfalls, followed by another 190-plus performance in Game 2 (191) before slowing down in Game 3 (155). Chong made progress in three games with her 168 in the opening game and 181 and 177 in the second and third games, while Omechelang had her best showing in Game 2 (202), but still fell to third, as she had only 154 in Game 1 and 174 in Game 3.