Courtesy: Saipan Tribune


Talavera, Pagarao are January's best

by Roselyn Monroyo

Bowling's Robert Talavera and futsal's Lalaine Pagarao were named NMASA Male and Female Athletes of Month for January after their notable performance in separate events last month.

Talavera earned NMASA's nod for the first monthly award of the year after clinching the 2010 SBA-Budweiser King of the Lanes title. The tournament was played last month with Talavera besting 13 other keglers for the coveted crown.

The 43-year-old bowler started his title bid in last month's tournament with a nine-game total of 1,860 pinfalls and average of 206.67 per game-the highest in the qualifier. He went on to advance to the stepladder finals and gained the outright first finals berth.

In the finals, Talavera survived eventual runner-up Rusty Musca despite losing Game 1 of the championship duel, 203-212. A 231-pinfall performance against Musca's 195 in the crucial Game 2 allowed Talavera to seal the championship, 434-407.

It was Talavera's first time to claim the annual title despite prevailing in monthly tournaments on multiple occasions.

Pagarao was also a first-timer, playing futsal only last fall season. She did not even play soccer before, as she is known as a basketball player, having suited up for the CNMI National Team that won a silver medal in last year's Micronesian Games and for the Marianas High School Lady Dolphins in the MISO league.

The lefty played for Shirley's Football Club in the B division the NMIFA Women's Futsal Fall League and emerged as the winner of the Golden Boot award after knocking in 34 goals. She also led Shirley's to a third-place finish in the eight-team B division.

With their wins in the January race, Talavera and Pagarao now qualify for the 2011 NMASA Male and Female Athletes of the Year awards.

Talavera had earlier qualified for the 2010 plum, as he won the NMASA Male Athlete of the Month for September last year. The bowler and the rest of the monthly awardees for 2010 will be recognized in the 2010 NMASA Annual Sports Banquet on Feb. 17 at the Seaside Grill of Saipan Grand Hotel.


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com