Omechelang gets first win of season

Gloria Omechelang earned her first victory of the season after topping the Saipan Bowling Association/Budweiser Queen of the Lanes Tournament held over the weekend at the Saipan Bowling Center.

Robert Talavera, left, and Gloria Omechelang pose for a photo during the awards ceremony for the SBA/Budweiser King and Queen of the Lanes’ April roll-offs last Sunday at the Saipan Bowling Center. (Contributed Photo)

The veteran kegler joined both days of the monthly roll-offs and showed a better form last Sunday with her four-game total of 707 pinfalls to prevent Day 1 leader Diana Camacho from ruling the Queen of the Lanes event for the third straight time. Diana Camacho, who prevailed in the February and March competitions, took the lead last Saturday and boosted her chances for another monthly plum after collecting 619 pinfalls. The back-to-back winner also participated in the Sunday roll-off, but came up short, dropping to seventh after tallying 636 pinfalls. Bowlers are allowed to compete on both days, but only the higher score is counted.

Omechelang snapped Camacho’s streak, as the former was the lone participant in the women’s field to score at least 707 pinfalls. Omechelang, who was ranked fifth in Day 1 with her 555 pinfalls, started slow in Day 2 with her 130 in Game 1 and went on a seesaw in the next two, recording 196 and 179 before finishing strong with her 202 in Game 4.

Before logging her best score in the four-game roll-off, Omechelang was ahead by only five pinfalls, 505-500, against eventual runner-up and Diana’s daughter Carrie. Carrie improved in every game with her 148, 172, 180, and 195, to end up with the second-best 695 pinfalls. Yho Villavicencio rounded out the Top 3 after nailing 680 pinfalls (162, 154, 192, and 172).

Eight other female bowlers joined the weekend roll-offs with Janice Camacho (657) placing fourth, followed by Elena Soll (654), Ron Cal (638), Tess Fabie (620), Anna Kim (598), Lala Taitano (583), January winner Diana Chong (531), and Marie Candado (528).

Two in a row for Talavera

In the King of the Lanes, Robert Talavera bagged his second straight win, duplicating the feat of January and February champion Raymond Angeles.

The March winner secured another victory after his solid performance in the last two games in Day 1 where he knocked down 200-plus pins (210 and 211). He posted 185 and 184 in Games 1 and 2 to earn 790 for an average of 197.50.

Raul Dumapit also had two 200-plus pinfall games (211 and 208 in the first two) last Saturday, but failed to keep his momentum, recording only 165 and 189 in the last two to settle for the runner-up honors with his 773 total and 193.25 average.

Angeles completed the Top 3 with his 771 pinfalls and 192.75 average in Day 1. The two-time winner was a bit inconsistent last Sunday, starting the final roll-off with 213 pinfalls and logging 171, 164, and 223 in the last three.

Other bowlers who join the April tournament were Lito Teodoro (705), Paul Pangelinan (697), Percy Omechelang (688), Ronald Batac (685), Ramir De Leon (675), Edgar Abalos (667), Ariel Dumapit (661), Tony Verdaguer (648), Bernard Paraiso (645), Simon Manacop (618), Tito Corpuz (588), and Raphael Zapanta (582).