December crowns go to Zapanta, Cal

 Raymond Zapanta and Ron Cal capped Saipan Bowling Association’s 2010-2011 season on a winning note after prevailing in the December roll-offs held over at the weekend at the Saipan Bowling Center.

Zapanta knocked down 855 in four games during Day 1 of the roll-offs last Saturday to take the last SBA/Budweiser King of the Lanes monthly plum. After a slow start (163 pinfalls), Zapanta posted 200 plus pinfalls in the last three games (226, 220, and 246) for a 33-pinfall lead over Day 1 second-ranked Alex Castro (822). Castro went on to finish in third place after Day 2 of the competition, as Robert Talavera bowled last Sunday and managed to take the No. 2 spot with his four-game total of 827 pinfalls. Twelve other male bowlers joined the King of the Lanes tournament.

The December win was only Zapanta’s second monthly plum and it took a while before he topped the competition anew as the last time he won was during the January roll-offs.

Cal clinched her fourth monthly award after reigning in the December Queen of the Lanes event. She also prevailed in the February, June, and August roll-offs, making her the female kegler with the most monthly victories this season, one win ahead of Gloria Omechelang (March, July, and October).

Cal bowled only last Sunday and her four-game total of 716 pinfalls was enough to surpass the 712 pinfalls. Omechelang recorded last Saturday. Cal posted 181 and 177 pinfalls in the first two games and 180 and 178 in the last two for an average of 179 pinfalls. Omechelang had 170, 202, 148, and 191 for an average of 178 and came back for the Sunday roll-off, but came out flat, tallying only 553 pinfalls. Bowlers are allowed to join both days of the roll-offs, but only the higher score is counted.

Rounding out the Top 3 was Tess Fabie, who also bowled on both days and her Day 2 total of 682 pinfalls defeated the 671 of Yho Villavicencio.

In the Fiji Water Prince of the Lane, Marion McKenzie also ended the season with a victory after collecting 646 pinfalls last Sunday.

McKenzie, who won from May to July and October and lost in August, September, and November, defeated rival M.J. Aldan and November winner John Taisacan. Aldan and Taisacan logged 613 and 600 pinfalls, respectively. Completing the list was Ryan Batac, who earned 528 pinfalls.