Full Circle rules Budweiser Saturday Night League

Members and supporters of Full Circle pose with their trophies and medals during the awards ceremony for the 55th Philippine Bowling Association-Budweiser Saturday Night League late last month at the Saipan Bowling Center. (Contributed Photo)

Full Circle received the championship trophy in the 55th Philippine Bowling Association-Budweiser Saturday Night League late last month at the Saipan Bowling Center after besting eight other teams in the 18-week tournament.

Full Circle, which was made up of Atoy Banting, Lito Teodoro, Cora Muna, Wrene May Alegre, Randy Abreu, Boy Sabate, Tass Nape, and Ed Caranso, finished the season with a 52.5-19.5 win-loss record to beat IT&E Hall of Fame and D’Unknown. IT&E Hall of Fame and D’Unknown had similar 46.1-25.5 marks, but the former won the tiebreak and took the runner-up honors.

Other teams that joined the 55th season of PBA Saturday Night League were RR & Associates (45.5-26.5), SBC/J’s Restaurant (43-39), Team Mobil (42-30), Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan (35-37), Jets (22-50), and Bud Rollers/MARPAC, Inc. (9-63).

After losing in the battle for the championship, IT&E Hall of Fame redeemed itself in the team scratch series and handicap series categories. IT&E Hall of Fame’s 2,857 in the team scratch series prevailed against the 2,767 and 2,758 of Fiesta and SBC/J’s, respectively. In the handicap series, IT&E Hall of Fame collected 3,121 to beat Full Circle (3,113) and RR & Associates (3,099).

Fiesta and RR & Associates split the two other teams awards. RR & Associates topped the team handicap game as its 1,129 pinfalls won against the 1,115 of SBC/J’s and 1,099 of IT&E Hall of Fame. Fiesta, on the other hand, ruled the team scratch game with its 1,009, while SBC/J’s and IT&E Hall of Fame were ranked second and third, respectively.

Mersai dominates

SBC/J’s Restaurant’s Kathy Mersai swept the individual awards in the men’s division. She recorded 238, 575, 263, and 647 in the scratch game, scratch series, handicap game, and handicap series for the four wins. Mersai also topped the high average category after registering 171.39.

IT&E Hall of Fame’s Lyn Santos and Jets’ Gloria Omechelang finished second and third in the scratch game, respectively, and switched places in the scratch series. In the handicap game, Santos was ranked second anew, while Fiesta’s Gigi Zapanta took the third place honors. Santos then gained her third runner-up finish in the handicap series, while D’Unknown’s Ron Cal placed third.

In the men’s field, IT&E Hall of Fame’s Bernard Paraiso and Fiesta’s Raymond Zapanta split the four categories. Paraiso won in the scratch game (254) and handicap game (269), while Zapanta claimed first place in the scratch series (683) and handicap series (716). In the individual high average, SBC/J’s Restaurant made it 2 for 2 with Robert Talavera (185.76) edging Fiesta’s Simon Manacop (185.19) and teammate Percy Omechelang (181.02).

Meanwhile, Fiesta also had a sweep as its members—Gigi Zapanta and Ador Dimaano—brought home the Most Improved Player awards.