Winners in PBA-Budweiser tourneys recognized

Philippine Bowling Association finally awarded the trophies and other prizes to the winners in the 2015 PBA-Budweiser Saturday Night League and 2015 PBA Budweiser Bowler of the Year Tournament last Saturday at the Saipan Bowling Center.

The awards ceremonies for the two tournaments that concluded late in June last year were postponed after Typhoon Soudelor hit Saipan last Aug. 2, causing the closure of SBC and cancelation of bowling competitions for several months.

The Bowler of the Year contest ended on June 28 with Rusty Musca besting 20 other participants. Musca topped the nine-game qualifier as he totaled 1, 750 pins for an average of 194.44. He was the lone bowler in the field to average at least 190 per game, highlighting his performance in the qualifier with a 244 in Game 1 before closing with back-to-back 200-plus pins in Games 8 (212) and 9 (214). His others scores were 174, 187, 165, 181, 183, and 180, giving him a 45-pinfall lead over the second-ranked Alex Castro (1,705).

With their Top 2 finish in the elimination, Musca and Castro advanced to the stepladder finals along with Bernard Paraiso (1,675), Simon Manacop (1,640), and Ruselle Zapanta (1,639). The last three qualifiers then battled for the right to face Castro in the semifinals, while Castro automatically moved into the finale. Manacop survived the playoff after logging 236 against the 212 and 148 of Zapanta and Paraiso, respectively, before falling to Castro in the semis. Castro registered 278 versus the 234 of Manacop to arrange a title showdown against Musca, who had a twice-to-beat advantage in the finale. Musca did not need the privilege as he took only one game to clinch the crown with his 224-189 victory against Castro.

Musca, Castro, and Manacop received trophies and cash prizes during last weekend’s awards ceremony, which the latter missed.

In the PBA Saturday Night League, the first place trophy and $500 cash went to Fiesta Resort & Spa, while D’Unknown and SBC/J’s Restaurant also received awards plus $350 and $200, respectively. Mobil went home with $100 for placing fourth, while IT&E Hall of Fame got $50 for landing at fifth spot.

Special awards were also handed to the team and individual winners with SBC/J’s Restaurant prevailing in the high scratch game and series, and high handicap series. Fiesta foiled an SBC/J’s Restaurant sweep in the team event after topping the high handicap game.

In the individual categories, SBC/J’s Restaurant’s Roger De Guzman won the high scratch and high handicap game and series, while Fiesta’s Ador Dimaano ruled the high scratch series. In the women’s field. SBC/J’s Restaurant’s Kathy Mersai lorded it over in the high scratch game and series, while Myrna Santos and Ruby Besid topped the high handicap game and series, respectively.

Mersai got two more awards—the individual high average and most improved bowler. In the men’s division, the most improved bowler was Raphael Zapanta, while Robert Talavera had the high average in the season.