'Mr. Perfect' Ryan wants more before time is up

'Mr. Perfect' Ryan wants more before time is up

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Although Ryan Leonard Lalisang plans to quit bowling in the
next three years to return to the classroom, his nickname Mr.
Perfect is likely to stick with him for a long time to come.

He scored a perfect game of 300 in the final of the Malaysian
leg of the 2004 Asian Bowling Federation (ABF) Tour in March to
win the title in style.

It also gave him the award of the highest game scorer of the
Tour from the ABF. It was nothing new for him; he has recorded 10
perfect games in his career.

Ryan, 24, ranked fourth on the 2004 ABF Tour, his highest ever
ranking.

Formerly, he finished ninth at the 2001 AMF World Cup in
Pattaya, Thailand.

"Competition is very tight in men's bowling," he said.

"So, I am pleased with my present achievements, but I still
want to win more in the next three years before I quit."

That includes the ongoing ABF Tournament of Champions, which
will finish on Sunday, more legs of the ABF Tour, playing in the
World Tenpin Masters and World Cup, as well as winning gold in
the Southeast Asia (SEA) Games in Manila later this year.

It's a lot to be crammed into three short years before his
planned retirement. Ryan wants to return to his studies, now put
on hold for the sake of his bowling, preferably at a university
abroad.

Like his female compatriot Putty Armein, Ryan was forced to
quit studying law at Atmajaya University in Jakarta in 2002 after
two years, due to the difficulty in gaining a leave of absence to
play in tournaments.

"Sometimes I don't understand the policy of universities here,
including mine. I know that in my university, some basketball
players, for example, could easily take leave for competition
reason, but not a bowler."

He has no regrets about taking the hiatus from his studies,
for his tournament earnings will be able to support his
education.

Ryan also received a Rp 200 million bonus after winning three
golds and one silver for Jakarta in the 2004 National Games in
Palembang.

But the rewards have come with sacrifices.

The youngest of three children of Robert and Vonny Lalisang
left home in Balikpapan, where his father worked in an oil firm,
for Jakarta in 1997 to train and participate in the SEA Games.

"I was a first year student in senior high school at that
time. But my decision to move to Jakarta led me to win a silver
and a bronze at the 1997 SEA Games."

Sponsored by Jaya Ancol Bowl and Columbia for bowling
equipment, Ryan is respected by other bowlers.

Shaker Al Hassan of the United Arab Emirates, who won the
Indonesia Open last October, said he was impressed by the
Indonesian's play.

"I saw him do some good bowling in Hong Kong late last year.
Certainly he is a tough contender, especially if he plays at home
like in the Tournament of Champions."

Although he noted Ryan's lack of preparation for the Indonesia
Open, in which he performed poorly, "but Ryan is still one of the
best bowlers in Asia as he managed to qualify for the Tournament
of Champions".