Zapanta brothers dominate individual awards

Zapanta siblings-Raphael and Raymond-led the individual top performers in the Philippine Bowling Association-Capitol Bowling Center’s 29th Friday Night League.

Raphael took the high game scratch and high game with handicap, while Raymond prevailed in the high series scratch and high average divisions.

The younger Zapanta recorded 278 pinfalls in the high game scratch to beat Team 6’s Mario Mayuga, who settled for second with his 269.

In the high game handicap, Raphael carded 302 pinfalls to edge Mayuga anew, as the latter scored only 295.

In the high series scratch, Raymond collected 722 pinfalls to down the 657 of IT&E’s Ramir de Leon. Then in the high average, the older Zapanta posted 205.48 to lead the men’s field and defeat Team 6’s Raymond Angeles (180.40) and Richard Leong (179.83).

Raymond, who earned the league’s best 11,096 pinfalls in 54 games, missed nailing his third win when he finished only second in the high series with handicap. He logged 734, 49 pinfalls behind the 783 of De Leon.

In the women’s division, Team 6’s Mel Regis notched three individual awards, including the most improved bowler plum. She took the MIP award against Lillian Gutierrez, ZAPS’ Laarni Zapanta, and Python’s Jannette Regaspi.

The men’s MIP award went to Triple L Construction’s Rene Dario, who prevailed over teammate Arnold Nillon, ZAP’s Raymond Zapanta, and Tropex Garden, Co.’s Roy Reyes.

Besides the MIP plum, Regis also reigned supreme in the high game with handicap and high series scratch. She tallied 232 in the high game with handicap, beating Ambyth’s Ron Cal and Regaspi, who both nailed 227. In the high series scratch, Regis posted 514 against the 498 of runner-up Gigi Zapanta of ZAPS.

After a second place finish in the high game with handicap, Cal redeemed herself in the high game scratch, earning 197 pinfalls to top Regis (192). Also joining the women’s winner’s circle was, Regaspi, who ruled the high series with handicap with her 658 pinfalls, 20 pinfalls ahead of the 638 of AON’s Young Hwang.

Completing the list of top performers in the women’s division was Gigi Zapanta, who took the high average honors with her 152.04. Zapanta had a close fight with Regis, who dropped to second with her 152 average, while Cal finished third with her 150.18. Gigi Zapanta totaled 7, 146 pinfalls in 47 games, Regis had 5,472 in 36 games, and Cal tallied 4,205 in 28 games.

The Top 2 placers in each category in the men’s division went home with cash prizes, while only the winners in the women’s category pocketed cash prizes. In the high average and MIP contests, only the first placers were given cash prizes.

Bowlers from 10 teams competed for the individual awards in the league that lasted for 18 weeks.