The back pains that hounded him in the second round gone, Sinfuego was healthy enough to shoot it out all day with Pucay, carding an eagle and three birdies in the last eight holes to turn a two-stroke deficit into the same one-shot advantage he held overnight.
"Buti na lang umusok sa back nine, akala ko lalayo na talaga si Mars," said the 31-year-old Sinfuego, who posted a 206 aggregate, 10-under par over the windswept Canlubang north course.
Pucay needed to flash his own short game magic to avoid any bogeys, match Sinfuego’s score and trail his former national teammate just by a stroke at 207 going into the final 18 holes of the tourney presented by San Miguel Beer with the support of GG&A Super Ferry.
Robert Pactolerin was in third spot at 209 following a 67 and Danny Zarate made himself one of only two possible spoilers to an all-Canlubang show with a 70 for a 210 aggregate.
Pactolerin vaulted ahead with a birdie-birdie start and appeared ready for a back nine breakaway with a 33 counting another birdie on the sixth. But his guns fell silent from there, and he settled for a 36 coming home.
Cassius Casas, winner of the Sherwood Hills leg two weeks ago, booted himself out of the title picture with a struggling 73 that dropped him to a share of 12th with Cesar Ababa (72).
Pucay, whose last victory came in the Orchard leg of the 1999 Philip Morris Circuit, said Sinfuego’s solid game puts a lot of pressure not just on him but everybody still hoping to win the P100,000 winner’s purse.
"Maganda ang nilalaro ni Richard, kailangan maganda rin ang palo para makasabay. Masyadong dikit ang labanan kaya anybody’s game pa rin yan," said Pucay.
Pucay’s short game brilliance saw him one putt six of the first nine holes, including three for pars and one of his three birdies came from 30 feet. He had two gimme putts on the 11th and 17th for his 68.
Sinfuego could have done better if not for at least five missed birdie tries from within five feet in the front nine. He started his back nine with birdies on the 11th and 12th before knocking in a 15-foot putt for an eagle on the 14th. He capped the round with a birdie from five feet on the 17th.