HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — There was no denying Ray San Nicolas and CJ Cali the March Budweiser King and Prince of the Lanes titles last Sunday at Central Lanes Bowling Center in Tamuning.
In the St. Patrick’s Day showdown, a mostly green-clad affair, lucky charms were on deck during the monthly finals as San Nicolas stormed through the pins and hammered strike after strike on his way to routing No. 9-seeded Ricky Duenas by 81 pins. On his way to claiming his first title in several years, San Nicolas rolled a six-bagger to lock up the match.
During the semifinal match, the top-seeded San Nicolas edged Matthew Cruz as he worked off a strike in the ninth frame to close out the match with a four-bagger for a 199-181 win. Duenas, on the other hand, took the scenic route as he beat No. 3-seeded Corey Granillo 199-186, then dispatched No. 4-seeded Cisco Uncangco 193-182 before ousting No. 2-seeded Noah Taimanglo 215-166 to advance to the monthly finals.
San Nicolas, in the qualifying rounds, took pole position held earlier in the day with a 211 average – 39 pins adrift was Taimanglo followed by Granillo, Uncangco, Cruz, Duenas, Daniel Lee, Sean Lee, Aaron Elliott and Jay Leon Guerrero, who rounded off the top 10 and advanced to the elimination rounds.
As luck may have it, the prince’s finale pitted two newcomers. And, to top it off, the finals included a sibling rivalry. In the end, the elder sibling took the throne as No. 8-seeded CJ Cali defeated top seed Evan Cali 196-160. The brothers set up the finale as they beat their counterparts convincingly in the semifinals. Top-seeded Evan Cali beat No. 10-seeded Arnold Hernandez and CJ Cali toppled No. 2-seeded Isaiah Morellano.
Evan Cali, after the handicapping scores were affixed, led the prince qualifying rounds, finishing 10 pins ahead of Morellano who averaged 203 pins per game. Henry Abasta finished in third, followed by Arlene Reyes, Kevin Fejeran, Francis Prado, Aron Hernandez, CJ Cali, Ina Lee and Arnold Hernandez as the top 10 qualified for the elimination rounds.
The next Budweiser King and Prince of the Lanes will be held 1:15 p.m. April 21 at Central Lanes.
Ray San Nicolas is all smiles after clinching this month’s Budweiser King of the Lanes bowling title Sunday, March 17, 2024.
